hock

¹ American  

[hok] / hɒk /

noun

1. the joint in the hind leg of a horse, cow, etc., above the fetlock joint, corresponding anatomically to the ankle in humans.

2. a corresponding joint in a fowl.

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verb (used with object)

1. to hamstring.

hock ² American  

[hok] / hɒk /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. any white Rhine wine.

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hock ³ American  

[hok] / hɒk /

verb (used with object)

1. pawn.

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noun

1. the state of being deposited or held as security; pawn.

   She was forced to put her good jewelry in hock.

2. the condition of owing; debt.

   After the loan was paid, he was finally out of hock.

hock ¹ British  

/ hɒk /

verb

1. (tr) to pawn or pledge

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noun

1. the state of being in pawn (esp in the phrase in hock )

2. 1. in prison

   2. in debt

   3. in pawn

hock ² British  

/ hɒk /

noun

1. the joint at the tarsus of a horse or similar animal, pointing backwards and corresponding to the human ankle

2. the corresponding joint in domestic fowl

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verb

1. another word for hamstring

hock ³ British  

/ hɒk /

noun

1. any of several white wines from the German Rhine

2. (not in technical usage) any dry white wine

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Other Word Forms

• hocker noun

Etymology

Origin of hock¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; variant of dialect hough, from Middle English hough, houh, houe “heel,” from Old English hōh “heel, hough, promontory”; heel ¹, Kew

Origin of hock²

First recorded in 1615–25; short for Hockamore Hochheimer

Origin of hock³

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; from Dutch hok “kennel, sty, pen, (informal) miserable place to live, prison”

Explanation

The hock is a joint on an animal's hind leg, or hock (as a verb) can also mean "to pawn." If you are hard up for cash, you may need to hock that ham hock for a few bucks. Good luck!. An animal's hock is the rough equivalent to a human's ankle. A horse's hock is easy to see: it's the joint above the hoof that's angled backwards. Other mammals (especially those with long legs) also have hocks, including dogs and pigs. In the case of a pig, the word hock is more commonly used to describe a cut of meat from the animal's leg — a "ham hock." When hock is a verb, it usually means "pawn," or "leave an item in return for a loan of money."

Example Sentences

In the New Statesman, he said: "We've got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets".

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

Razor-sharp teeth and surgical precision allow the bats to make an incision in an animal, such as in the hock of a cow, without the animal feeling it.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

Chicken with hock burn markings is still safe to eat.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2024

She added that the company had this month moved to using lower stocking density birds "which will have a significant positive impact on the reduction of hock markings, amongst other welfare benefits".

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2024

Jacob grabbed the enormous hock of meat that passed for William’s shoulder and shook it.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz