1
a
: 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
1
a
: pawn entry 2 sense 2
got his watch out of hock
b
: debt sense 2
in hock to the bank
2
: prison
hocked; hocking
US, informal
: to forcefully spit out (something, such as phlegm)
hock a loogie
hock a wad of tobacco
Examples of hock in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the prince had to hock the family jewels to pay his gambling debts
Noun (3)
some lowlife who had been in and out of hock most of his adult life
Recent Examples on the Web
Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
To heel-hang a carcass, cut a gambrel stick, sharpen its ends, and push it through cuts made in the hock skin between the big tendon and the bone.
—Maurice H. Decker, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Conversely, Soto was like the guy who hocks his wedding ring before the separation agreement is signed.
—Greg Marotta, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hock
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Noun
Add chicken stock, ham hocks, diced tomatoes, and beer, and bring to a simmer over medium-high.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
To heel-hang a carcass, cut a gambrel stick, sharpen its ends, and push it through cuts made in the hock skin between the big tendon and the bone.
—Maurice H. Decker, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Shein is far from the first online retailer to run into trouble with third-party vendors hocking controversial wares or flouting policy standards.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Conversely, Soto was like the guy who hocks his wedding ring before the separation agreement is signed.
—Greg Marotta, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hock
Cite this Entry
“Hock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hock. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hock
1 of 3 noun1
: the region in the hind limb of a four-footed animal (as the horse) that corresponds to the human ankle
2
: a small cut of meat from either the front or hind leg just above the foot especially of a pig
ham hocks
hock
2 of 3 verbhock
3 of 3 noun
: pawn entry 2 sense 2
got the ring out of hock
Etymology
Noun
Old English hōh "heel"
Noun
from Dutch hok "pen, prison"
Medical Definition
hock
noun
: 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
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