hock

¹

[ hok ]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to hamstring.

hock

²

[ hok ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. any white Rhine wine.

hock

³

[ hok ]

verb (used with object)

1. pawn ¹( def 1 ).

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

/ hɒk /

verb

1. tr to pawn or pledge

noun

1. the state of being in pawn (esp in the phrase in hock )
2. in hock
   1. in prison
   2. in debt
   3. in pawn

hock

²

/ 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

verb

1. another word for hamstring

hock

³

/ hɒk /

noun

1. any of several white wines from the German Rhine
2. (not in technical usage) any dry white wine

Derived Forms

• ˈhocker, noun

Other Words From

• hocker noun

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hock¹

C19: from Dutch hok prison, debt

Origin of hock²

C16: short for hockshin, from Old English hōhsinu heel sinew

Origin of hock³

C17: short for obsolete hockamore Hochheimer

Example Sentences

On Saturday, Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell told the BBC Labour was "not in hock" to vested interests "at all", and had declared donations correctly.

From BBC

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

In addition, Havnameltdown had corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid — a pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory — injected in both hocks and both stifles a month before his last race.

From New York Times

Chicken with hock burn markings is still safe to eat.

From BBC

Clue 1: Mystery Coach was a freaking fullback for the Division III Buena Vista Beavers, born into a family of farmers and built like a muscular ham hock in a helmet and pads.

From Seattle Times