hawk

The word “hawk” means a medium-sized bird of prey that hunts other animals from the air. In plain terms, most often the bird of prey; also used for someone who favours tough, aggressive action, especially in politics.

“Hawk” is pronounced HAWK (/ˈhɔːk/ in IPA).

Here is “hawk” used in a sentence: “A hawk circled slowly above the field, watching for movement.”

Depending on how it is used, “hawk” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “hawk” comes from Old English. From Old English hafoc, from a very old Germanic word possibly meaning "to seize" — hawks being named for how they catch their prey.

“Hawk” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Hawk” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medium-sized bird of prey that hunts other animals from the air.

A hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey, generally smaller than an eagle, though both hunt other animals from the air. Eagles are typically larger and more powerfully built, while hawks are more agile and often hunt smaller prey.

In politics or economics, a hawk is a person who supports an aggressive or forceful stance, such as favoring military action or tighter monetary policy. This figurative use contrasts with a "dove," who favors a more peaceful or cautious approach.

To hawk goods means to sell them, especially in public, often while calling out to attract buyers. To hawk, in the other sense, means to clear the throat noisily, often to bring up phlegm — an unrelated meaning that happens to share the same word.