noun
hock
hok
Hock (noun) means the joint on the hind leg of an animal such as a horse, dog, or pig, roughly equivalent to an ankle. Example: “The vet examined a swelling on the horse's hock.”
noun
1
The joint on the hind leg of an animal such as a horse, dog, or pig, roughly equivalent to an ankle.
"The vet examined a swelling on the horse's hock."
2
A white wine from the Rhine region of Germany.
"They served a chilled glass of hock with dinner."
verb
1
To pawn an item as security for a loan.
"He hocked his watch to cover the rent."
How to use hock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the ankle-like joint on an animal's hind leg, or (informally) to pawn something for cash.
Common pairings
hock a watch
in hock
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Word forms
- Plural
- hocks
- Third person singular
- hocks
- Past tense
- hocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The vet examined a swelling on the horse's _____.
Etymology
The "pawn" sense traces to a clipping of "hockamore", itself from German; the wine sense comes from Hochheim, a German wine-producing town.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for hock
See all rhymes for hock →Frequently asked questions
What does “hock” mean?
The word “hock” means the joint on the hind leg of an animal such as a horse, dog, or pig, roughly equivalent to an ankle. In plain terms, either the ankle-like joint on an animal's hind leg, or (informally) to pawn something for cash.
How do you pronounce “hock”?
“Hock” is pronounced hok (/hɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “hock” in a sentence?
Here is “hock” used in a sentence: “The vet examined a swelling on the horse's hock.”
What part of speech is “hock”?
Depending on how it is used, “hock” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hock” come from?
The word “hock” comes from German. The "pawn" sense traces to a clipping of "hockamore", itself from German; the wine sense comes from Hochheim, a German wine-producing town.
How many meanings does “hock” have?
“Hock” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the joint on the hind leg of an animal such as a horse, dog, or pig, roughly equivalent to an ankle.
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