Hawks

[ hawks ]

/ hɔks /

noun

Howard (Winchester),1896–1977, U.S. film director.

Nearby words

hawking, hawking radiation, hawkins, hawkish, hawknose, Hawks, hawks and doves, hawksbill turtle, hawkshaw, hawksmoor, hawkweed

Definition for hawks (2 of 6)

hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

noun

any of numerous birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, having a short, hooked beak, broad wings, and curved talons, often seen circling or swooping at low altitudes.

any of several similar, unrelated birds, as the nighthawk.

Informal. a person who preys on others, as a sharper.

Also called war hawk. Informal. a person, especially one in public office, who advocates war or a belligerent national attitude.Compare dove¹(def 5).

any person who pursues an aggressive policy in business, government, etc.: The corporation is now run by a bunch of young hawks.

verb (used without object)

to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.

to hunt with hawks.

Origin of hawk

before 900; Middle English hauk(e), Old English hafoc; cognate with Old Frisian havek, Old Saxon habuc Old High German habuh, Old Norse haukr hawk, perhaps Polish kobuz kind of falcon

Related forms

hawk·like, adjective

Definition for hawks (3 of 6)

hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

verb (used with object)

to peddle or offer for sale by calling aloud in public.

to advertise or offer for sale: to hawk soap on television.

to spread (rumors, news, etc.).

verb (used without object)

to carry wares about for sale; peddle.

Origin of hawk

First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from hawker²

Definition for hawks (4 of 6)

hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

verb (used without object)

to make an effort to raise phlegm from the throat; clear the throat noisily.

verb (used with object)

to raise by noisily clearing the throat: to hawk phlegm up.

noun

a noisy effort to clear the throat.

Origin of hawk

1575–85; imitative; see haw¹

Definition for hawks (5 of 6)

hawk

⁴

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

noun

a small, square board with a handle underneath it, used by plasterers and masons to hold plaster or mortar being applied.

Origin of hawk

⁴

1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps variant of hache battle-ax (see hatchet)

Definition for hawks (6 of 6)

Hawk

[ hawk ]

/ hɔk /

noun Military.

a medium-range, mobile U.S. surface-to-air missile system.

Origin of Hawk

H(oming) A(ll the) W(ay) K(iller)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hawks

Once label execs heard “Hideaway,” they began circling it like hawks.
The Making of Kiesza: From Navy Sharpshooter to Beauty Queen to Pop Diva|Marlow Stern|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I emailed Robby Kalland, who previously covered the Hawks for three years with Score Atlanta, SB Nation, and Hawks.com.
Racism or Exit Strategy for Atlanta Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson?|Robert Silverman|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead Hollywood remains tentative, depending on women-friendly filmmakers like Cukor, Hawks, and now Feig to push the envelope.
'Ghostbusters' and the Slow Emancipation of Female-Driven Comedy|Teo Bugbee|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hawks at one point advised him to seek psychological counseling to get a handle on his feelings for Bacall.
Bogie & Bacall: A Hollywood Romance for the Ages|Marlow Stern|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

We live right by Bernal Hill, so we see a lot of hawks and other raptors up there.
Mississippi Hippos, Teddy Bears, and Other Strange Beasts|Scott Porch|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Milk is found curdled in the stomachs of all animals, old as well as young, and even of carnivorous ones, as of hawks.
Zoonomia, Vol. II|Erasmus Darwin
Whitlock also mentions, that he had a cast of them manned like hawks, which would come to hand.
The Eve of All-Hallows, v. 2 of 3|Matthew Weld Hartstonge
It was in this mood that he came upon the great dome-roofed cage containing the hawks and eagles.
Kings in Exile|Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts
Hawks make larger rings as a general rule, if, like these, they are good ones.
The Ornithology of Shakespeare|James Edmund Harting
Few besides the hawks and the crows would see it, if it were there.
The River and I|John G. Neihardt

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (1 of 5)

Hawks

/ (hɔːks) /

noun

Howard (Winchester). 1896–1977, US film director. His films include Sergeant York (1941) and The Big Sleep (1946)

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (2 of 5)

hawk

/ (hɔːk) /

noun

any of various diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, such as the goshawk and Cooper's hawk, typically having short rounded wings and a long tailRelated adjective: accipitrine

US and Canadian any of various other falconiform birds, including the falcons but not the eagles or vultures

a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policiesCompare dove 1 (def. 2)

a ruthless or rapacious person

know a hawk from a handsaw to be able to judge things; be discerning

verb

(intr) to hunt with falcons, hawks, etc

(intr) (of falcons or hawks) to fly in quest of prey

to pursue or attack on the wing, as a hawk

Derived Forms

hawklike, adjective

Word Origin for hawk

from Shakespeare (Hamlet II:2:375); handsaw is probably a corruption of dialect heronshaw heron Old English hafoc; related to Old Norse haukr, Old Frisian havek, Old High German habuh, Polish kobuz

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (3 of 5)

hawk

/ (hɔːk) /

verb

to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street

(tr often foll by about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)

Word Origin for hawk

C16: back formation from hawker 1

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (4 of 5)

hawk

/ (hɔːk) /

verb

(intr) to clear the throat noisily

(tr) to force (phlegm) up from the throat

British a slang word for spit 1

noun

a noisy clearing of the throat

Word Origin for hawk

C16: of imitative origin; see haw ²

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (5 of 5)

hawk

⁴

/ (hɔːk) /

noun

a small square board with a handle underneath, used for carrying wet plaster or mortarAlso called: mortar board

Word Origin for hawk

of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with hawks

hawk

see watch like a hawk.

Hawks

noun

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Nearby words

Definition for hawks (2 of 6)

hawk

noun

verb (used without object)

Origin of hawk

Related forms

Definition for hawks (3 of 6)

hawk

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of hawk

Definition for hawks (4 of 6)

hawk

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of hawk

Definition for hawks (5 of 6)

hawk

noun

Origin of hawk

Definition for hawks (6 of 6)

Hawk

noun Military.

Origin of Hawk

Examples from the Web for hawks

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (1 of 5)

Hawks

noun

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (2 of 5)

hawk

noun

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (3 of 5)

hawk

verb

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (4 of 5)

hawk

verb

noun

Word Origin for hawk

British Dictionary definitions for hawks (5 of 5)

hawk

noun

Word Origin for hawk

Idioms and Phrases with hawks

hawk