holk

Meanings

Noun

• A hollow cavity.

Verb

• To dig out; make hollow; hollow out.
• To dig; dig into; pierce; penetrate; investigate; poke.
• To dig up; excavate.

Origin

• From Middle English holk, from Old English holc ("hole, cavity"), from Proto-Germanic *hulkaz ("a hollow"), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- ("to cover, hide").
• Cognate with Low German holke, hölke, German Holk ("a type of flat-bottomed barge"), Swedish holk ("nest, birdhouse"), Icelandic hólkur ("tube"). Related to hulk.