hock

UK: /ˈhɒk/ US: /hɑk/ ,(hok)

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

hock¹ /hɑk/   n. [countable]

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

hock³ /hɑk/   v. [~ + object]

1. to pawn:
   He had hocked his wife's jewelry to raise money to gamble.

n. [uncountable]

2. the state of being deposited or held as security;
   pawn:
   the jewelry was in hock.
3. the condition of owing;
   debt:
   in hock to the amount of thirty thousand dollars.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hock¹  (hok), n. 

1. Zoology the joint in the hind leg of a horse, cow, etc., above the fetlock joint, corresponding anatomically to the ankle in humans. See diag. under horse. 
2. Zoology a corresponding joint in a fowl.

v.t. 

3. Pathology to hamstring.

• 1375–1425; variant of dialect, dialectal hough, Middle English ho(u)gh, apparently back formation from late Middle English hokschyn, etc., Old English hōhsinu hock (literally, heel) sinew; see heel¹

hock²  (hok), n. [Chiefly Brit.]

1. British Terms any white Rhine wine.

• short for Hockamore Hochheimer 1615–25

hock³  (hok), v.t. 

1. pawn.

n. 

2. the state of being deposited or held as security;
   pawn:
   She was forced to put her good jewelry in hock.
3. the condition of owing;
   debt:
   After the loan was paid, he was finally out of hock.

• Dutch hok kennel, sty, pen, (informal) miserable place to live, prison
• 1855–60, American.

hock′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hock / hɒk/ noun

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

verb

1. another word for hamstring

Etymology: 16th Century: short for hockshin, from Old English hōhsinu heel sinew

hock / hɒk/ noun

1. any of several white wines from the German Rhine

Etymology: 17th Century: short for obsolete hockamore Hochheimer

hock / hɒk/ verb

1. (transitive) to pawn or pledge

noun

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

Etymology: 19th Century: from Dutch hok prison, debt