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Definition of goshawk

goshawk

/ˈɡɑːsˌhɔːk/
gos · hawk
Plural:goshawks
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goshawk Lexical Profile

goshawk Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, short-winged bird of prey in the genus Accipiter, native to temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere, known for its agility and predatory skill in pursuing prey through dense woodlands.

Example

"The wildlife photographer waited patiently for hours to capture a shot of the elusive Northern goshawk darting through the pine trees."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for goshawk

• Nearby Words

gorse
gory
gosh
goshawk
gosling
gospel
gossip

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'gōshafoc', literally meaning 'goose hawk', combining 'gōs' (goose) and 'hafoc' (hawk). The name likely originated because these raptors were historically used in falconry to hunt larger game such as geese.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Goshawk. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/goshawk
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