hawk

hawk

hawk¹ [hôk]

n.

[ME hauk < OE hafoc, akin to Ger habicht, Pol kobuz, falcon]

1.

a) any of various accipitrine birds having short, rounded wings and a long tail and legs, as Cooper's hawk, goshawk, and the harriers

b) loosely any of various other birds of prey, as falcons and ospreys

2. an advocate of all-out war or of measures in international affairs designed to provoke or escalate open hostilities: cf. DOVE

3. a person regarded as having the preying or grasping nature of a hawk; cheater; swindler

vi.

1. to hunt birds or other small game with the help of falcons or other hawks

2. to attack by or as by swooping and striking

vt.

to attack or prey on as a hawk does

hawkish

adj.

hawklike

adj.

hawk² [hôk]

vt.

[< HAWKER¹]

1. to advertise or peddle (goods) in the streets by shouting

2. to advertise or sell: a mildly contemptuous term

hawk³ [hôk]

vi.

[echoic]

to clear the throat audibly

vt.

to bring up (phlegm) by coughing

n.

an audible clearing of the throat

hawk⁴ [hôk]

n.

[prob. fig. use of HAWK¹]

a flat, square piece of wood or metal with a handle underneath, for carrying mortar or plaster