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hocking

- 5 dictionary results

Hock⋅ing

  [hok-ing]
Use hocking in a Sentence
–noun
William Ernest, 1873–1966, U.S. philosopher.

hock

1  [hok]
–noun
1. the joint in the hind leg of a horse, cow, etc., above the fetlock joint, corresponding anatomically to the ankle in humans.
2. a corresponding joint in a fowl.
–verb (used with object)
3. to hamstring.
Origin:
1375–1425; var. of dial. hough, ME ho(u)gh, appar. back formation from late ME hokschyn, etc., OE hōhsinu hock (lit., heel) sinew; see heel 1

hock

3  [hok]
–verb (used with object)
1. pawn.
–noun
2. the state of being deposited or held as security; pawn: She was forced to put her good jewelry in hock.
3. the condition of owing; debt: After the loan was paid, he was finally out of hock.
Origin:
1855–60, Americanism; < D hok kennel, sty, pen, (informal) miserable place to live, prison

Related forms:
hocker, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hocking
hock 1   (hŏk)   
n.  
    1. The tarsal joint of the hind leg of a digitigrade quadruped, such as a horse, corresponding to the human ankle but bending in the opposite direction.
    2. A joint in the leg of a domestic fowl similar to the hock of a quadruped.
  2. A small cut of meat, especially ham, from the front or hind leg directly above the foot.
tr.v.   hocked, hock·ing, hocks
To disable by cutting the tendons of the hock; hamstring.

[Middle English, from Old English hōh, heel.]
hock 3   (hŏk)   
tr.v.   hocked, hock·ing, hocks
To pawn: hock a diamond ring.
n.  
  1. The state of being pawned: put the diamonds in hock.
  2. The state of being in debt: thought we'd never get out of hock.

[Probably from Dutch hok, prison.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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