I [Pip] took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place. As the morning mists had risen ... when I first left the forge, so the evening were rising now; and ... I saw no shadow of another parting from her.—C. Dickens, Great Expectations (1860).
Haw´cabite (3 syl.), a street bully. After the Restoration, we had a succession of these disturbers of the peace; first came the Muns, then followed the Tityre Tus, the Hectors, the Scourers, the Nickers, the Hawcabites, and after them the Mohawks, the most dreaded of all.
Hawk (Sir Mulberry), the bear-leader of Lord Frederick Verisopht. He is a most unprincipled roué, who sponges on his lordship, snubs him, and despises him. “Sir Mulberry was remarkable for his tact in ruining young gentlemen of fortune.”
Hawk-Eye. Name given by frontiermen to Natty Bumppo, who is also called by the French, La Longue Carbine.—James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans.
To know a hawk from a handsaw, a corruption of “from a hernshaw” (i.e. a heron), meaning that one is so ignorant, he does not know a hawk from a heron: the bird of prey from the game flown at. The Romans had a proverb, Ignorat quid distent ara lupinis (“he does not know money from lupines,” or beans); lupines were used on the Roman stage as money. We have a proverb, “He doesn’t know beans,” which may be descended from the Roman saying.
Hawthorn, a jolly, generous old fellow, of jovial spirit, and ready to do any one a kindness; consequently, everybody loves him. He is one of those rare, unselfish beings, who “loves his neighbor better than himself.”—I. Bickerstaff, Love in a Village.
Haworth. A starving lad, found in the snow at a foundry-door, becomes in time master of the works. He is imperious and greedy of power, making few friends and many foes. One human being believes in him—his mother—and when his ambition overvaults itself and he is ruined and in danger of being mobbed, she goes away with him into the darkness.—Frances Hodgson Burnett, Haworths (1879).
Hay (Colonel), in the king’s army.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time,[time,] Charles I.).
Hay (John), fisherman, near Ellangowan.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).
Haydn could never compose a single bar of music unless he could see on his finger the diamond ring given him by Frederick II.