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 Havey-cavey, adj. (old).—Uncertain; doubtful; shilly-shally.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

Havil, subs. (old).—A sheep. For synonyms, see Wool-bird.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

Havock, subs. (old: now recognised).—Devastation; waste.

1607. Shakspeare, Julius Cæsar, iii., 1. Cry havock, and let slip the dogs of war.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. They made sad Havock, they Destroy'd all before 'em.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

Hawcubite, subs. (old).—A roysterer; a street bully. [After the Restoration there was a succession of these disturbers of the peace: first came the Muns, then followed the Tityre Tus, the Hectors, the Scourers, the Nickers, the Hawcubites, and after them the Mohawks (q.v.).]

Hawk, subs. (common).—1. A card-sharper; a rook (q.v.).

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hawk, c., a Sharper.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hawk, a Sharper.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hawk also signifies a sharper, in opposition to pigeon.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Hawk. A Confidence Man; a swindler.

1891. New York Herald [London ed.], 31 May. These were hawks and pigeons, and those who are no longer pigeons, and never had, or will have, an inclination to be hawks.

2. (common).—A bailiff; a constable. For synonyms, see Beak.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. I., ch. iii. 'The game's spoiled this time, Rob Rust, anyhow,' growled one, in an angry tone; 'the hawks are upon us, and we must leave this brave buck to take care of himself.'

Verb (old).—See quots.

1589. Nashe, Anatomie, Whereas, by their humming and hawking they have leisure to gesture the mislike of his rudeness.

1600. Shakspeare, As You Like It, v., 3. Shall we clap into 't roundly, without hawking, or spitting, or saying we are hoarse?

1604. Marston, Malcontent, ii., 2. Is he troubled with the cough of the lungs still? Does he hawke a night's?

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant Crew, s.v. Also spitting difficulty.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hawking, an effort to spit up the thick phlegm, called oysters, whence it is wit upon record, to ask the person so doing, whether he has a license, a punning allusion to the act of hawkers and pedlars.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xlvi. This tremendous volley of superlatives which Sampson hawked up from the pit of his stomach.

1822. Byron, Vision of Judgment, xc. To cough and hawk, and hem, and pitch His voice into that awful note of woe.

Ware Hawk! phr. (old).—A warning; look sharp! See subs. sense 2.

d. 1529. Skelton, Ware Hawk (Title).

1625. Jonson, Staple of News, v. 2. See! the whole covey is scattered; ware, ware the hawks!

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hawk, ware hawk, the word to look sharp, a bye-word when a bailiff passes.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. iii. Ware hawk! Douse the Glim.

To hawk one's meat, verb. phr. (common).—To peddle one's charms, i.e., to show a great deal of neck and breasts. Fr., montrer sa viande.

Hawk-a-mouthed, adj. phr. (old).—See quot.