howk

1 of 2

ˈhōk

dialectal British variant of hawk

howk

2 of 2

verb

"

-ed/-ing/-s

transitive verb

dialectal, British : to hollow out : excavate, dig

—often used with a preposition

lobsters had got at it … and howked pieces out of it

—E. F. Benson

intransitive verb

dialectal, British : dig

the dog was howking in the yard

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English holken; akin to Middle Low German holken to hollow out; derivatives from the root of Old English hol hollow

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