I. ˈhȯk noun
Etymology: Middle English hauk, from Old English hafoc; akin to Old High German habuh hawk, Russian kobets a falcon
Date: before 12th century
1. : any of numerous diurnal birds of prey belonging to a suborder (Falcones of the order Falconiformes) and including all the smaller members of this group ; especially : accipiter
2. : a small board or metal sheet with a handle on the underside used to hold mortar
3. : one who takes a militant attitude and advocates immediate vigorous action ; especially : a supporter of a war or warlike policy — compare dove
• hawk·ish ˈhȯ-kish adjective
• hawk·ish·ly adverb
• hawk·ish·ness noun
II. verb
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1. : to hunt birds by means of a trained hawk
2. : to soar and strike like a hawk
transitive verb
: to hunt on the wing like a hawk
III. verb
Etymology: imitative
Date: 1581
transitive verb
: to raise by trying to clear the throat
hawk up phlegm
intransitive verb
: to utter a harsh guttural sound in or as if in hawking
IV. noun
Date: 1604
: an audible effort to force up phlegm from the throat
V. transitive verb
Etymology: back-formation from hawker (II)
Date: 1713
: to offer for sale by calling out in the street
hawk ing newspapers
broadly : sell