dawk

present singular third person dawks · participle present dawking · participle past dawked · past dawked

1. UKdialectaltransitiveTo drive a sharp instrument into; incise with a jerk; puncture.
2. transitiveTo cut or mark with an incision; gash.
3. UKdialectaltransitiveTo dig up weeds.

plural dawks

1. A hollow or crack in timber.

   THE DAWK was a slight concavity or depression in the body of the cast type , made by a corresponding convexity in the mould

   1677–1683, Joseph Moxon, “(please specify the page)”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678–1683, →OCLC

plural dawks

1. governmentA person who advocates neither an aggressive nor a conciliatory political attitude (especially in foreign policy).

   In the analysis that follows, I shall explore the foreign policy views of three distinct factions within the Chinese elite: “hawks, doves, and dawks.” In my view, the “dawks,” “centrists,” or more precisely, Maoists, have won.

   1967, Donald S. Zagoria, “Peking’s Hawks, Doves, and Dawks” (chapter 3), in Vietnam Triangle: Moscow, Peking, Hanoi, New York, N.Y.: Pegasus, →LCCN, page 67

plural dawks

1. alternativeAlternative form of dak (“Indian post system”).

   1 more example

   During the mutiny of 1857–58, when several young surgeons had arrived in India, whose services were urgently needed at the front, it is said that the Head of the Department to which they had reported themselves, directed them immediately to 'lay a dawk.' One of them turned back from the door, saying: 'Would you explain, Sir; for you might just as well tell me to lay an egg!'

   1903, Henry Yule & al., Hobson-Jobson..., s.v. "DAWK, To lay a"

plural dawks

1. archaicArchaic form of dhak (“flame of the forest tree (Butea monosperma)”).