hawk

noun

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, especially one in public office, who advocates war or a belligerent national attitude.Compare dove¹(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.

verb (used without object)

6. to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.
7. to hunt with hawks.

verb (used with object)

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.).

verb (used without object)

4. to carry wares about for sale; peddle.

verb (used without object)

1. to make an effort to raise phlegm from the throat; clear the throat noisily.

verb (used with object)

2. to raise by noisily clearing the throat: to hawk phlegm up.

noun

3. a noisy effort to clear the throat.

noun

1. a small, square board with a handle underneath it, used by plasterers and masons to hold plaster or mortar being applied.

noun Military.

1. a medium-range, mobile U.S. surface-to-air missile system.

noun

1. any of various diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, such as the goshawk and Cooper’s hawk, typically having short rounded wings and a long tailRelated adjective: accipitrine
2. US and Canadian any of various other falconiform birds, including the falcons but not the eagles or vultures
3. a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policiesCompare dove 1 (def. 2)
4. a ruthless or rapacious person
5. know a hawk from a handsaw to be able to judge things; be discerning

verb

6. (intr) to hunt with falcons, hawks, etc
7. (intr) (of falcons or hawks) to fly in quest of prey
8. to pursue or attack on the wing, as a hawk

verb

1. to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street
2. (tr often foll by about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)

verb

1. (intr) to clear the throat noisily
2. (tr) to force (phlegm) up from the throat
3. British a slang word for spit 1

noun

4. a noisy clearing of the throat

noun

1. a small square board with a handle underneath, used for carrying wet plaster or mortarAlso called: mortar board

n.

c.1300, hauk, earlier havek (c.1200), from Old English hafoc (W. Saxon), heafuc (Mercian), heafoc, from Proto-Germanic *habukaz (cf. Old Norse haukr, Old Saxon habuc, Middle Dutch havik, Old High German habuh, German Habicht “hawk”), from a root meaning “to seize,” from PIE *kap- “to grasp” (cf. Russian kobec “a kind of falcon;” see capable). Transferred sense of “militarist” attested from 1962.

v.1

“to sell in the open, peddle,” late 15c., back-formation from hawker “itinerant vendor” (c.1400), from Middle Low German höken “to peddle, carry on the back, squat,” from Proto-Germanic *huk-. Related: Hawked; hawking. Despite the etymological connection with stooping under a burden on one’s back, a hawker is technically distinguished from a peddler by use of a horse and cart or a van.

v.2

“to hunt with a hawk,” mid-14c., from hawk (n.).

v.3

“to clear one’s throat,” 1580s, imitative.

see watch like a hawk.