hawk 1
— hawklike , adj.
/hawk/ , n.
1. 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. any of several similar, unrelated birds, as the nighthawk.
3. Informal. a person who preys on others, as a sharper.
4. Also called war hawk . Informal. 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. to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.
7. to hunt with hawks.
[ bef. 900; ME hauk ( e ), OE hafoc; c. OFris havek, OS habuc OHG habuh, ON haukr hawk, perh. Pol kobuz kind of falcon ]
hawk 2
/hawk/ , 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.
[ 1470-80; back formation from HAWKER 2 ]
hawk 3
/hawk/ , 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; imit.; see HAW 1 ]
hawk 4
/hawk/ , n.
a small, square board with a handle underneath it, used by plasterers and masons to hold plaster or mortar being applied.
[ 1350-1400; ME; perh. var. of hache battle-ax (see HATCHET) ]