Goshawk
/ˈɡɒsˌhɔːk/noun
A large, powerful hawk of the genus Accipiter, known for its speed and agility in hunting.
Did you know?The first element is Old English gōs, and the name originally meant a hawk associated with geese, not a mystical title — but it became one of the most formidable names in falconry.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
gōs-hafoc
“Goose hawk; a hawk thought to prey on geese”
Middle English
ME
goshawke
“A hawk of this type, especially the northern goshawk”
Late Middle English
ME
goshauk
“Standardized spelling variants for the bird of prey”
Modern English
English
goshawk
“A large accipiter hawk”