I. ˈhäk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English hocke, from Old English hoc
: any of several mallows of the genera Althaea and Malva — now used only in holly hock
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English hocken to celebrate Hocktide, from hocke-, hoke- (in hockedai, hokeday Hockday)
transitive verb
archaic : to tease or harass after a manner formerly customary at Hocktide
intransitive verb
: to behave in a brash rambunctious manner suitable to Hocktide
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of hook
chiefly Britain : a strong usually handled hook used especially for cargo handling or for hanging meat
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of Middle English hoch, hough, from Old English hōh heel; akin to Old Norse hā sin hock, sinew, Sanskrit kaṅkāla skeleton
1.
a. : the tarsal joint or its region in the hind limb of a digitigrade quadruped (as the horse) that corresponds to the ankle of man but is elevated and bends backward and that is a compound joint containing a number of small bones and having a prominence at the back caused by the calcaneum and corresponding to the heel of man — see cow illustration
b. : the corresponding joint of a fowl's leg — called also knee ; see cock illustration
2. : a small cut of meat from either the front or hind leg just above the foot — used especially of pork
pork hocks and sauerkraut
3. chiefly dialect : the hip and thigh — often used in plural
so hipless … his pants … forever slipping down around his hocks — F.B.Gipson
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to disable by cutting the tendons of the hock : hamstring
VI. noun
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: modification of Hochheimer from Hochheim, Germany, its locality
chiefly Britain : rhine wine 1
VII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Dutch hok pen (for animals), hovel, prison
1.
a. : restraint of goods usually as a pledge for a loan
put his winter overcoat into hock
had difficulty getting the technical supplies out of hock with the customs
b. slang : prison
will be 10 years before he gets out of hock
2.
[Afrikaans hok, from Dutch]
Africa : a small or temporary building or enclosure
a chicken hock
•
- in hock
VIII. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to pledge as security for a loan : pawn
IX. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps short for hockelty
: the last card in a faro dealing box