hock

hock · noun¹

Clipping of hockamore, from German.

hock · noun, verb²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*kenk-
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*hanhaz
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*hą̄h
4. Old English · derived fromhōh
5. Middle English · inherited fromhough
6. English todayhock

From Middle English hough, hoche, hokke, from Old English hōh, from Proto-West Germanic *hą̄h, from Proto-Germanic *hanhaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kenk-. See also West Frisian hakke, Dutch hak, German Low German Hacke, Hack (“heel”); also Lithuanian ki̇̀nka (“leg, thigh, knee-cap”), kenklė̃ (“knee-cap”), Sanskrit कङ्काल (kaṅkāla, “skeleton”).

hock · verb, noun³

1. Dutch · derived fromhok“hutch, hovel, jail, pen, doghouse”
2. English todayhock

From the phrase in hock, circa 1855-60, from Dutch hok (“hutch, hovel, jail, pen, doghouse”). Compare also Middle English hukken (“to sell; peddle; sell at auction”), see huck.

hock · verb⁴

1. Yiddish · borrowed fromהאַק
2. English todayhock

From Yiddish האַק (hak), imperative singular form of האַקן (hakn, “to knock”), from the idiomatic expression האַק מיר נישט קיין טשײַניק (hak mir nisht keyn tshaynik, “don't knock a teakettle at me”).

hock · verb, noun⁵

Probably imitative (a variant form of hawk (“cough”)), like hack (“cough”), although see that entry for more.

Words from the same roots