Dictionary

winkle-hawk en · NOUN

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch winkelhaak (“try square, rectangular tear or cut”), from Middle Dutch winkelhake (“try square”).

Meanings

1. (New-York, obsolete, rare) A rectangular tear or cut in clothing or any other fabric, shaped like a try square.
   • And if out of our experiences we create no more pretentious effort than a hand-book on "The Care of Cutlery," or "The Preservation of Tin Roofs," or "The Mending of Winkle-hawks in Youth's Clothing," we are sure of appreciative readers, and for consolation for what may seem lack of the artistic we will have our regular, continuous royalty payments. 1914, The Editor; the Journal of Information for Literary Workers, page 197:
   • You've said yourself that everything you own's got some kind of a winkle hawk patched over in the seat. 1922, Leona Dalrymple, Fool's Hill, page 241:
   • The spekilation ha'n't turned out just so good as I expected, but it might have been worse ; anyhow, it's a comfort to walk off without a winkle-hawk in one's character for 'cuteness. 1861 July, “Norman Sinclair. An Autobiography”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 90, page 44:
   • 1908 November 11, "Hahne & Co." (advertisement), Elizabeth Daily Journal, evening edition, page 4. NOTE—Some are slightly imperfect through mill stains or “winkle hawks”—hardly noticeable.
   • Some broken harness to be mended, a loose door to be hinged, two saddles that needed oiling, and a mass of untidy canvas to be inspected for rents and winkle-hawks. 1932, Katharine Newlin Burt, The Tall Ladder, page 81:

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