hock
UK[hɒk]US[hɑːk]
n
the joint in the leg of a four-legged animal, such as a horse or dog, that corresponds to the human ankle
n
a cut of meat from the leg of an animal, especially a pig, at the joint above the foot
v
to pawn or pledge something as security for a loan
Etymology
the word "hock" entered english from middle low german "hoke" or its cognate in middle dutch, "hock," both referring to the joint in an animal's leg. these germanic terms are likely related to old english "hōhsinu," meaning the heel sinew, pointing to a common germanic root concerned with the heel or bend of the leg. the semantic journey is direct, retaining the anatomical sense for animals. the financial verb "to hock," meaning to pawn, is a 19th-century american english development, possibly originating from the earlier dutch word "hok" meaning prison or pen, metaphorically extending to the idea of placing an item in pawnbroker's custody.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from middle low german or dutch, where its form and core meaning related to the joint were established.
Examples
the horse had a swollen hock and was slightly lame.
we used a smoked ham hock to flavor the soup.
he had to hock his watch to pay for the train ticket home.