hawk

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a bird of prey with keen eyesight, broad wings, and a hooked bill

   A hawk circled above the field looking for small mammals.

2. 2
   noun

   a person who supports aggressive military or foreign policy

   Defence hawks demanded a stronger response to the attack.

3. 3
   verb

   to sell or advertise goods by calling out in public

   Vendors hawked fruit and cold drinks outside the stadium.

4. 4
   verb

   to clear the throat noisily or bring up mucus

   He hawked to clear his throat before speaking.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Hawk, the bird name, is an Old English word that may derive from a Germanic root meaning “to seize.” The verb meaning “carry around and offer for sale” arose separately in the late 15th century, probably by shortening hawker, and is related to huckster through a root meaning “haggle” or “bargain.”

The bird name descends from Old English hafoc and Proto-Germanic *habukaz. The political sense contrasts a belligerent hawk with a peaceful dove. The verb meaning 'sell by calling out' arose by back-formation from hawker, while the throat-clearing verb is a separate, probably imitative formation.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary