howk

EtymologyEdit

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”).

VerbEdit

tae 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)