goshawk
(ˈgɒshɔːk)
Forms: 1 góshafoc, -uc, 4–7 goshauk(e, -hawke, 6 gosehauke, (5–6 gois(s)halk, 7 goshalk), 6–7 goosse-hawk(e, 6 goushake, 7 -hawke, goshhawke, 7–9 goss-hawk, 4, 6– goshawk.
[OE. gós-hafoc, f. gós goose + hafoc hawk; cf. ON. gáshaukr.]
A large short-winged hawk (Astur palumbarius, and other species).
| c 1000 ælfric Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 131/22 Aucarius, goshafuc. c 1050 Ags. Voc. ibid. 285/2 Accipiter, goshafoc. 13.. K. Alis. 483 Him thoughte a goshauk with gret flyght Setlith on his beryng. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. iii. (1495) 411 The goshawke is in fayrnesse of fethers moost lyke to the Ostrych. 1486 Bk. St. Albans D iv, Ther is a Goshawke, and that hauke is for a yeman. c 1520 A. Wyndesore in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. (1846) I. 227 There hathe been..an Ayerye of goosse hawks contynually there bredyng. 1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 32 Fierce goshawkes with the Phesants had no warre. 1612 Sc. Bk. Rates in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 313 Halkis called..Goshalkis the halk xvli. 1681 J. Flavel Meth. Grace vii. 145 A wicked minister is the devil's gosshawk, that goes a birding for hell! 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 128 The kite or the goss⁓hawk approach their prey side-ways. 1810 Scott Lady of L. iii. x, Shrill As goss-hawk's whistle on the hill. 1865 Cornhill Mag. May 626 Goshawks..have no chance with anything faster than a rising pheasant; they are excellent for rabbits. 1890 Thompson in Proc. U.S. Nat. Museum (1891) XIII. 527 Accipiter atricapillus, American Goshawk. |
| attrib. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxix, She hadna the same goss-hawk glance that makes the skin creep. |