Hawking
'hɔːkɪŋ
Definitions
2 meaningsTo sell goods by calling out prices or going from place to place.
'hɔːkɪŋ
To offer goods for sale by calling out in the street or going from door to door.
The street performer was hawking tickets to his show.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking down the street and someone's shouting about what they're selling - like a hot dog or a new toy. That's hawking! It's about trying to get people to buy something by being loud or going around and showing them.
👶 For kids: It's like yelling out to people to buy stuff, like at a market!
More Examples
The salesman was hawking his new product to potential customers.
She spent the morning hawking her homemade crafts at the fair.
How It's Used
"Street vendors are known for hawking their wares to passersby."
"He spent years hawking his paintings, trying to get noticed."
To hunt using trained birds of prey, specifically hawks.
'hɔːkɪŋ
To hunt with hawks.
Hawking was once a popular sport among the aristocracy.
💡 Simply: Imagine using a hawk to hunt, like a fancy way to catch birds or other animals. It's an old sport, like a game with a hawk helping you.
👶 For kids: Using a bird, like a hawk, to hunt other birds!
More Examples
He learned the ancient art of hawking from his grandfather.
The painting depicted a nobleman hawking with his falcon.
How It's Used
"Royalty and nobility enjoyed hawking as a popular pastime."
"The documentary showed the art of hawking, a historical form of bird hunting."
From Old English *hafocian*, related to 'hawk', referring to the practice of using hawks for hunting. It later broadened to include the act of selling goods.
The verb 'hawking' originally referred to the practice of hunting with hawks, but it evolved to encompass the act of selling goods. The shift reflects changes in societal practices and the rise of commerce.
Memory tip
Think of a street vendor yelling out prices to get your attention.