Hawk
/hɔːk/
Definitions
3 meaningsA bird of prey with a hooked beak and sharp talons.
/hɔːk/
A bird of prey.
The hawk soared gracefully through the air.
💡 Simply: A hawk is like a super cool bird with amazing eyesight that hunts other animals. Imagine a bird watching TV and eating it!
👶 For kids: A hawk is a bird that hunts and eats other animals. It has sharp claws and can see very well!
More Examples
The farmer set up a scarecrow to ward off hawks from his chickens.
How It's Used
"The hawk circled high above the field, searching for prey."
"The hawk's sharp eyesight allows it to spot small animals from a great distance."
To hunt using a hawk.
/hɔːk/
To hunt with a hawk.
In medieval times, nobility would often hawk for recreation.
💡 Simply: Hawking is like using a special bird to go hunting. Imagine a hawk working for a company.
👶 For kids: Hawking is when you use a hawk to help you hunt.
More Examples
The falconer trained the bird to hawk.
How It's Used
"Kings and noblemen often hawked for sport."
To peddle goods by calling out.
/hɔːk/
To peddle or sell goods, especially by calling out.
He hawked newspapers on the street corner.
💡 Simply: Hawking is like selling things on the street by shouting about them. Imagine a person yelling about their goods.
👶 For kids: When you hawk, you're selling things by yelling about them!
More Examples
The vendor hawked his fruit at the market.
How It's Used
"Street vendors hawked their wares to the crowds."
"The newspaper boy hawked the latest headlines on the street."
Idioms & expressions
hawk-eyed
Having very sharp eyesight.
"The hawk-eyed detective spotted the suspect in the crowd."
From Old English *hafoc*, related to Old High German *habuh* and Proto-Germanic **habukaz*. The word's meaning has remained consistent throughout its history, referring to a bird of prey.
The word 'hawk' has been used in English for centuries, primarily to describe birds of prey. The verb forms relating to hunting and selling emerged later.
Memory tip
Think of the *hook*ed beak – that’s how you know it’s a hawk!