Hawk moth

Hawk moth
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. [1913 Webster]

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}. [1913 Webster]

{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) A northern owl ({Surnia ulula}) of Europe and America. It flies by day, and in some respects resembles the hawks. (b) An owl of India ({Ninox scutellatus}).

{Hawk's bill} (Horology), the pawl for the rack, in the striking mechanism of a clock. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Hawk moth — (m[o^]th ; 115). (Zo[ o]l.) Any moth of the family {Sphingid[ae]}, of which there are numerous genera and species. They are large, handsome moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed. They fly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hawk moth — hawk′ moth n. ent any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers Also called sphingid,sphinx moth • Etymology: 1775–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • hawk moth — n. any of a family (Sphingidae) of moths with a thick, tapering body, slender wings, and a long feeding tube used for sucking the nectar of flowers; sphinx moth …   English World dictionary

  • hawk moth — noun any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed • Syn: ↑hawkmoth, ↑sphingid, ↑sphinx moth, ↑hummingbird moth • Hypernyms: ↑moth • Hyponyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • hawk moth — any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their very swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers. Also called sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth. [1775 85] * * * or sphinx moth Any moth of the… …   Universalium

  • hawk moth — Sphinx Sphinx, n. [L., from Gr. sfi gx, usually derived from sfi ggein to bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.] 1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hawk moth — noun Any moth of the family Sphingidae. Syn: hornworm, sphinx moth …   Wiktionary

  • hawk-moth — n. Death s head moth …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • hawk moth — noun Date: 1785 any of a family (Sphingidae) of stout bodied moths with a long proboscis, long narrow more or less pointed forewings, and small hind wings called also sphinx …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hawk-moth — …   Useful english dictionary

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