The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hawk \Hawk\ (h[add]k), n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek, AS. hafoc, heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht, Icel. haukr, Sw. h["o]k, Dan. h["o]g, prob. from the root of E. heave.] (Zo["o]l.) One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the family Falconid[ae]. They differ from the true falcons in lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were formerly trained like falcons. In a more general sense the word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk. Note: Among the common American species are the red-tailed hawk ( Buteo borealis); the red-shouldered ( Buteo lineatus); the broad-winged ( Buteo Pennsylvanicus); the rough-legged ( Archibuteo lagopus); the sharp-shinned ( Accipiter fuscus). See Fishhawk, Goshawk, Marsh hawk, under Marsh, Night hawk, under Night. Bee hawk (Zo["o]l.), the honey buzzard. Eagle hawk. See under Eagle. Hawk eagle (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic bird of the genus Spiz[ae]tus, or Limn[ae]tus, intermediate between the hawks and eagles. There are several species. Hawk fly (Zo["o]l.), a voracious fly of the family Asilid[ae]. See Hornet fly, under Hornet. Hawk moth. (Zo["o]l.) See Hawk moth, in the Vocabulary. Hawk owl. (Zo["o]l.)
A northern owl ( Surnia ulula) of Europe and America. It flies by day, and in some respects resembles the hawks.
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An owl of India ( Ninox scutellatus).
Hawk's bill (Horology), the pawl for the rack, in the striking mechanism of a clock.
Roughleg \Rough"leg`\, n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large hawks of the genus Archibuteo, having the legs feathered to the toes. Called also rough-legged hawk, and rough-legged buzzard.
Note: The best known species is Archibuteo lagopus of Northern Europe, with its darker American variety ( Sancti-johannis). The latter is often nearly or quite black. The ferruginous roughleg ( Archibuteo ferrugineus) inhabits Western North America.