Where does “howk” come from?

howk (Scots) comes from Scots holk, from Middle English holken, from Middle English holk, from Old English holc, from Proto-Germanic hulkaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

howk (Scots): to dig; to dig out, uproot; to mine or quarry

Definitions

  1. to dig; to dig out, uproot; to mine or quarry

Ancestry of “howk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scotsholk—
2Middle Englishholkento dig, excavate
3Middle Englishholka hollow part, cavity
4Old Englishholchole, cavity
5Proto-Germanichulkazcavity, hollow, recess; a hollow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hulkaz →Every word from Old English holc →