hock

noun (1)

\ ˈhäk

Definition of hock

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : the tarsal joint or region in the hind limb of a digitigrade quadruped (such as the horse) corresponding to the human ankle but elevated and bending backward — see horse illustration

b : a joint of a fowl's leg that corresponds to the hock of a quadruped

2 : a small cut of meat from a front or hind leg just above the foot ham hocks

hock

noun (2), often capitalized

Definition of hock (Entry 2 of 5)

chiefly British

: rhine wine sense 1

hock

verb (1)

hocked; hocking; hocks

Definition of hock (Entry 3 of 5)

transitive verb

: pawn

hock

noun (3)

Definition of hock (Entry 4 of 5)

1a : pawn entry 2 sense 2 got his watch out of hock

b : debt sense 3 in hock to the bank

2 : prison

hock

verb (2)

hocked; hocking

Definition of hock (Entry 5 of 5)

transitive verb

US, informal

: to forcefully spit out (something, such as phlegm) hock a loogie hock a wad of tobacco

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Examples of hock in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the prince had to hock the family jewels to pay his gambling debts

First Known Use of hock

Noun (1)

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1878, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1990, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hock

Noun (1)

Middle English hoch, hough, from Old English hōh heel; akin to Old Norse hāsin hock

Noun (2)

modification of German Hochheimer, from Hochheim, Germany

Noun (3) and Verb (1)

Dutch hok pen, prison

Verb (2)

variant of hawk entry 3

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Time Traveler for hock

The first known use of hock was in 1540

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More Definitions for hock

hock

noun

\ ˈhäk

Kids Definition of hock

1 : a small piece of meat from the leg of a pig ham hocks

2 : the part of the rear leg of a four-footed animal that is like a human ankle

hock

noun

\ ˈhäk

Medical Definition of hock

: the joint or region of the joint that unites the tarsal bones in the hind limb of a digitigrade quadruped (as the horse) and that corresponds to the human ankle but is elevated and bends backward