goshawk

From Middle English goshauk, from Old English gōshafoc (“goose hawk”), from gōs (“goose”) and hafoc (“hawk”). Compare also Old Norse gáshaukr and Late Middle English gosling. The bird gets its name from the fact that the birds of the species are hawks that were alleged to prey on geese.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɒshɔːk/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑshɑk/
• Rhymes: -ɒshɔːk, -ɑshɑk
• Hyphenation: gos‧hawk

goshawk (plural goshawks)

1. Any of several birds of prey, principally in the genus Accipiter.
   • 1820, [Walter Scott], chapter II, in The Abbot. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, page 43:

     But you heed me no more than a goss-hawk minds a yellow yoldring.

• goshawk on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Accipitridae on Wikispecies.Wikispecies