howk

Scots

Etymology

From earlier holk, from Middle English holken, from holk (“a hollow part, cavity”), see holk. Cognate with Low German holken (“to make hollow, hollow out”).

Verb

howk (third-person singular simple present howks, present participle howkin, simple past howkit, past participle howkit)

1. to dig
2. to dig out, uproot
3. to mine or quarry
4. to dig into, investigate
5. to root, burrow (pigs etc)