1
a
: the tarsal joint or region in the hind limb of a digitigrade quadruped (such as the horse) corresponding to the human ankle but elevated and bending backward see horse illustration
b
: a joint of a fowl's leg that corresponds to the hock of a quadruped
2
: a small cut of meat from a front or hind leg just above the foot
ham hocks
1
a
: pawn entry 2 sense 2
got his watch out of hock
b
: debt sense 2
in hock to the bank
2
: prison
hocked; hocking
US, informal
: to forcefully spit out (something, such as phlegm)
hock a loogie
hock a wad of tobacco
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Noun (3)
Examples of hock in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the prince had to hock the family jewels to pay his gambling debts
Noun (3)
some lowlife who had been in and out of hock most of his adult life
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
So what is a ham hock, really, and what are the best ham hock recipes to put it to good use?
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2024
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Curtailing the items eligible could embolden Amazon ’s competitive online retail advantage — but also poses a risk to fellow portfolio stock Meta Platforms , which has benefited from the likes of Temu and Shein flooding social media with ads hocking their products.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hock 
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Noun
Black hocks from a buck that has rutted for weeks reek the best.
—Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
So what is a ham hock, really, and what are the best ham hock recipes to put it to good use?
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
If Emily can be in Paris and Rome, why can’t Robert be in Joshua Tree hocking ayahuasca?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Curtailing the items eligible could embolden Amazon ’s competitive online retail advantage — but also poses a risk to fellow portfolio stock Meta Platforms , which has benefited from the likes of Temu and Shein flooding social media with ads hocking their products.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hock
Articles Related to hock
Dictionary Entries Near hock
Cite this Entry
“Hock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hock. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hock
1 of 3 noun1
: the region in the hind limb of a four-footed animal (as the horse) that corresponds to the human ankle
2
: a small cut of meat from either the front or hind leg just above the foot especially of a pig
ham hocks
hock
2 of 3 verbhock
3 of 3 noun
: pawn entry 2 sense 2
got the ring out of hock
Etymology
Noun
Old English hōh "heel"
Noun
from Dutch hok "pen, prison"
Medical Definition
hock
noun
: the joint or region of the joint that unites the tarsal bones in the hind limb of a digitigrade quadruped (as the horse) and that corresponds to the human ankle but is elevated and bends backward
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