Definition of the word hawk

The word "hawk" has its roots in Old English, where it was written as "hawk" or "hawco". The modern English word "hawk" is believed to have come from the Proto-Germanic word "*hahguniz", which was also the source of the Modern German word "Hahk" and the Dutch word "hauw". This Proto-Germanic word is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*keh2-", which meant "sharp" or "to cut". In Old English, the word "hawk" referred to not only the bird of prey, but also to a sharp or keen observer. This sense of the word is still seen in modern English, where someone who is a hawk is someone who is extremely observant and perceptive. Over time, the spelling of the word evolved into its modern form, and its meaning became more specialized to refer specifically to the bird.