Talk:Hawk (plasterer's tool)

Where does the name Hawk come from, why is this tool called that? This has been bothering the people I work with and myself for some time.

Shakespeare quote "I know a hawk from a handsaw"

This is also a pun - "I know a throat clearing from an answer". 210.50.143.21 (talk) 07:53, 3 November 2010 (UTC) Ian Ison Also worth noting here is a possible play on the word hawkshaw - detective. Thus "I know a spy or lookout from a detective". 210.50.143.21 (talk) 08:04, 3 November 2010 (UTC) Ian Ison

Etymology

According to Partridge's (whom one might expect to be authoritative on the subject), the bird takes its name from Old English "hafoc" (whence "havoc") meaning to heave or heft. Modern English still preserves the verb "hoik" with the same meaning of lifting or throwing up a weighty object. 210.50.143.21 (talk) 21:02, 3 November 2010 (UTC) Ian Ison

Illustrations

I agree that in use a hawk looks like a FALCON, but did they ever use hawks for falconing? I think the profile of a hawk when you set it down is much like the profile of some birds of prey. The handle will take the position of the bird's legs, and the sloping square will form the bird's body to its tail below the legs/handle and up to its head or high over-sloping shoulders above the legs/handle. A photo of a hawk in profile might show this better than the full-face portrait that is there now.2604:2000:C682:2D00:7413:2650:321E:B740 (talk) 19:15, 25 August 2018 (UTC)Christopher L. Simpson

They did use hawks, such as the goshawk, for falconing. That's why the verb "hawk" means to catch something using a bird of prey trained for the purpose. Also, true falcons are sometimes called hawks, "sparrow hawk", "pigeon hawk", "duck hawk", "prairie hawk"... Of course, this is all irrelevant as I'm pretty sure that the superficial resemblance is coincidence. Partridge's etymology from "hafoc" (to heave) is much more likely. 24.16.239.30 (talk) 11:09, 30 December 2023 (UTC)