1. (noun)Hawk one of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the familyFalconidae. They differ from the true falcons in lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were formerly trained like falcons. In a moregeneralsense the word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairiehawk
2. (noun)Hawk an effort to force up phlegm from the throat, accompanied with noise
3. (noun)Hawk a small board, with a handle on the under side, to hold mortar
4. (verb)Hawk to catch, or attempt to catch, birds by means of hawks trained for the purpose, and let loose on the prey; to practice falconry
5. (verb)Hawk to make an attackwhile on the wing; to soar and strike like a hawk; -- generally with at; as, to hawk at flies
6. (verb)Hawk to clear the throat with an audible sound by forcing an expiratory current of air through the narrow passage between the depressed soft palate and the root of the tongue, thus aiding in the removal of foreign substances
7. (verb)Hawk to raise by hawking, as phlegm
8. (verb)Hawk to offer for sale by outcry in the street; to carry (merchandise) about from place to place for sale; to peddle; as, to hawk goods or pamphlets