Definitions for: Hawk


[n] diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
[n] an advocate of an aggressive policy on foreign relations
[v] clear mucus or food from one's throat; "he cleared his throat before he started to speak"
[v] clear the throat, as of phlegm
[v] hunt with hawks
[v] sell or offer for sale from place to place



Webster (1913) Definition: Hawk, n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek, AS. hafoc,
heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht, Icel.
haukr, Sw. h["o]k, Dan. h["o]g, prob. from the root of E.
heave.] (Zo["o]l.)
One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the
family Falconid[ae]. They differ from the true falcons in
lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in
having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size
and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were
formerly trained like falcons. In a more general sense the
word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as
the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk.

Note: Among the common American species are the red-tailed
hawk (Buteo borealis); the red-shouldered ({B.
lineatus}); the broad-winged (B. Pennsylvanicus); the
rough-legged (Archibuteo lagopus); the sharp-shinned
Accipiter fuscus). See Fishhawk, Goshawk, {Marsh
hawk}, under Marsh, Night hawk, under Night.

Bee hawk (Zo["o]l.), the honey buzzard.

Eagle hawk. See under Eagle.

Hawk eagle (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic bird of the genus
Spiz[ae]tus, or Limn[ae]tus, intermediate between the
hawks and eagles. There are several species.

Hawk fly (Zo["o]l.), a voracious fly of the family
Asilid[ae]. See Hornet fly, under Hornet.

Hawk moth. (Zo["o]l.) See Hawk moth, in the Vocabulary.


Hawk owl. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A northern owl (Surnia ulula) of Europe and America. It
flies by day, and in some respects resembles the hawks.
(b) An owl of India (Ninox scutellatus).

Hawk's bill (Horology), the pawl for the rack, in the
striking mechanism of a clock.


Hawk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hawked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Hawking.]
1. To catch, or attempt to catch, birds by means of hawks
trained for the purpose, and let loose on the prey; to
practice falconry.

A falconer Henry is, when Emma hawks. --Prior.

2. To make an attack while on the wing; to soar and strike
like a hawk; -- generally with at; as, to hawk at flies.
--Dryden.

A falcon, towering in her pride of place, Was by a
mousing owl hawked at and killed. --Shak.


Hawk, v. i. [W. hochi.]
To clear the throat with an audible sound by forcing an
expiratory current of air through the narrow passage between
the depressed soft palate and the root of the tongue, thus
aiding in the removal of foreign substances.


Hawk, v. t.
To raise by hawking, as phlegm.


Hawk, n. [W. hoch.]
An effort to force up phlegm from the throat, accompanied
with noise.


Hawk, v. t. [Akin to D. hauker a hawker, G. h["o]ken,
h["o]cken, to higgle, to retail, h["o]ke, h["o]ker, a
higgler, huckster. See Huckster.]
To offer for sale by outcry in the street; to carry
(merchandise) about from place to place for sale; to peddle;
as, to hawk goods or pamphlets.

His works were hawked in every street. --Swift.


Hawk, n. (Masonry)
A small board, with a handle on the under side, to hold
mortar.

Hawk boy, an attendant on a plasterer to supply him with
mortar.

Synonyms: clear the throat, hawk and spit, huckster, monger, peddle, pitch, vend, war hawk

Antonyms: dove, peacenik

See Also: Accipiter cooperii, Accipiter gentilis, Accipiter nisus, Accipitridae, bird of prey, blue darter, Buteo buteo, Buteo jamaicensis, Buteo lagopus, Buteo lineatus, buteonine, buzzard, chicken hawk, Cooper's hawk, cough, cough out, cough up, deal, expectorate, eyas, falcon, family Accipitridae, fish eagle, fish hawk, goshawk, harrier, harrier eagle, hen hawk, honey buzzard, hunt, hunt down, kite, militarist, osprey, Pandion haliaetus, Pernis apivorus, raptor, raptorial bird, red-shouldered hawk, redtail, red-tailed hawk, roughleg, rough-legged hawk, run, sea eagle, sell, short-toed eagle, sparrow hawk, spit out, spit up, tercel, tercelet, tiercel, track down, trade, warmonger

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