hawk

¹

[ hawk ]

noun

1. 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.
2. any of several similar, unrelated birds, as the nighthawk.
3. Informal. a person who preys on others, as a con artist.
4. Also called war hawk. Informal. a person, especially one in public office, who advocates war or a belligerent national attitude. Compare dove ¹( def 5 ).
5. any person who pursues an aggressive policy in business, government, etc.:

   The corporation is now run by a bunch of young hawks.

6. Economics. an official or advisor who advocates relatively high interest rates or other monetary policies aimed at keeping inflation low.

verb (used without object)

1. to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.
2. to hunt with hawks.

hawk

²

[ hawk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to peddle or offer for sale by calling aloud in public.
2. to advertise or offer for sale:

   to hawk soap on television.

3. to spread (rumors, news, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to carry wares about for sale; peddle.

hawk

³

[ hawk ]

verb (used without object)

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

verb (used with object)

1. to raise by noisily clearing the throat:

   to hawk phlegm up.

noun

1. a noisy effort to clear the throat.

hawk

⁴

[ hawk ]

noun

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

Hawk

⁵

[ hawk ]

noun

, Military.

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

hawk

¹

/ hɔːk /

verb

1. to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street
2. troften foll byabout to spread (news, gossip, etc)

hawk

²

/ hɔːk /

noun

1. 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 tail accipitrine
2. any of various other falconiform birds, including the falcons but not the eagles or vultures
3. a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policies Compare dove 1
4. a ruthless or rapacious person
5. know a hawk from a handsaw
   to be able to judge things; be discerning

verb

1. intr to hunt with falcons, hawks, etc
2. intr (of falcons or hawks) to fly in quest of prey
3. to pursue or attack on the wing, as a hawk

hawk

³

/ hɔːk /

verb

1. intr to clear the throat noisily
2. tr to force (phlegm) up from the throat
3. a slang word for spit 1

noun

1. a noisy clearing of the throat

hawk

⁴

/ hɔːk /

noun

1. a small square board with a handle underneath, used for carrying wet plaster or mortar Also calledmortar board

Derived Forms

• ˈhawkˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• hawk·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawk¹

First recorded 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”

Origin of hawk²

First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from hawker ²

Origin of hawk³

First recorded in 1575–85; imitative

Origin of hawk⁴

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps variant of hache “battle-ax” ( hatchet )

Origin of hawk⁵

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawk¹

C16: back formation from hawker ¹

Origin of hawk²

from Shakespeare ( Hamlet II:2:375); handsaw is probably a corruption of dialect heronshaw heron

Origin of hawk³

C16: of imitative origin; see haw ²

Origin of hawk⁴

of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see watch like a hawk .

Example Sentences

Flowers are ubiquitous in Southern California and so easy to procure, from the buckets of seasonal blooms at your local supermarket to the gaudy $5 bouquets hawked at many freeway off-ramps.

From Los Angeles Times

He has also appointed prominent China hawks to top foreign and defence positions.

From BBC

As nervous US military hawks have pointed out, if Chancay can accommodate ultra-large container vessels, it can also handle Chinese warships.

From BBC

While Trump has yet to officially name his choice for secretary of state, Florida Senator Marco Rubio – another China hawk – appears to be the leading contender for the top diplomatic job.

From BBC

But Sam says there is "always stress" about money, adding that he watches his bank account "like a hawk".

From BBC