Search results for 'hawk':

hawk¹ noun 1 a relatively small diurnal bird of prey with short rounded wings and very good eyesight which hunts by pouncing on small birds and mammals. 2 in the USA: any of various falcons. 3 politics a person favouring force and aggression rather than peaceful means of settling disputes. Compare dove² (sense 2). 4 a ruthless or grasping person. verb (hawked, hawking) 1 intrans to hunt with a hawk. 2 intrans said of falcons or hawks: to fly in search of prey. 3 to pursue or attack on the wing, as a hawk does. hawking noun. hawkish like a hawk. hawklike adj. know a hawk from a handsaw to be able to judge between things pretty well. watch someone like a hawk to watch them closely.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon hafoc.

hawk² verb (hawked, hawking) 1 to carry (goods) round, usually from door to door, trying to sell them. 2 (often hawk about) to spread news, gossip, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: a back-formation from hawker².

hawk³ verb (hawked, hawking) 1 intrans to clear the throat noisily. 2 to bring phlegm up from the throat. noun the act or an instance of doing one of the above.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c.

hawk⁴ noun a mortarboard 1.