hawk

UK: /ˈhɔːk/ US: /hɔk/ ,(hôk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hawk¹ /hɔk/   n. [countable]

1. Birds a bird that catches animals for food, having a short, hooked beak, broad wings, and curved claws.
2. Government a person who calls for aggressive action in settling disputes.

hawk•ish, adj. 

hawk² /hɔk/   v. [~ + object]

1. to offer for sale, esp. by calling out loud in public;
   peddle:
   hawking souvenirs to tourists.

hawk•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hawk¹  (hôk), n. 

1. Birds 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. Birds any of several similar, unrelated birds, as the nighthawk.
3. Informal Terms a person who preys on others, as a sharper.
4. Informal Terms, Government Also called war hawk. a person, esp. one in public office, who advocates war or a belligerent national attitude. Cf. dove (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.

v.i. 

6. Zoology to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.
7. to hunt with hawks.

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

hawk′like′, adj. 

hawk²  (hôk), v.t. 

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.).

v.i. 

4. to carry wares about for sale;
   peddle.

• back formation from hawker² 1470–80

hawk³  (hôk), v.i. 

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

v.t. 

2. to raise by hawking:
   to hawk phlegm up.

n. 

3. a noisy effort to clear the throat.

• 1575–85; imitative; see haw¹

hawk⁴  (hôk), n. 

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

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

Hawk  (hôk), n. [Mil.]

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

• H(oming) A(ll the) west, western(ay) K(iller)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hawk / 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
2. a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policies
   Compare dove12
3. a ruthless or rapacious person

verb

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

Etymology: Old English hafoc; related to Old Norse haukr, Old Frisian havek, Old High German habuh, Polish kobuz; sense 5 from Shakespeare (Hamlet II:2:375), where handsaw is probably a corruption of dialect heronshaw heron

ˈhawkˌlike adjective

hawk / hɔːk/ verb

1. to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street
2. (transitive) often followed by about: to spread (news, gossip, etc)

Etymology: 16th Century: back formation from hawker¹

hawk / hɔːk/ verb

1. (intransitive) to clear the throat noisily
2. (transitive) to force (phlegm) up from the throat
3. 
   a slang word for spit1

Etymology: 16th Century: of imitative origin; see haw²

hawk / hɔːk/ noun

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

Etymology: of unknown origin