hawk

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hawk1

▶noun

• 1 a fast-flying bird of prey with broad rounded wings and a long tail, such as a sparrowhawk. [Accipiter and other genera: many species.]

  ■ N. Amer. a buzzard or similar large bird of prey.

  ■ any bird used in falconry.

• 2 a person who advocates an aggressive or warlike foreign policy.

• 3 used in names of hawkmoths, e.g. eyed hawk.

▶verb

• 1 hunt game with a trained hawk.

• 2 (of a bird or dragonfly) hunt on the wing for food.

– derivatives
hawkish adjective,
hawkishly adverb,
hawkishness noun.

– origin OE hafoc, heafoc, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hawk2

▶verb carry about and offer (goods) for sale in the street.

– origin C15: prob. a back-form. from hawker1.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hawk3

▶verb clear the throat noisily.

■ bring (phlegm) up from the throat.

– origin C16: prob. imitative.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hawk4

▶noun a plasterer's square board with a handle underneath for carrying plaster or mortar.

– origin ME: of unknown origin.