What does hocking mean?
Hocking refers to the act of pawning or pledging an item of personal property as security for a loan. This practice has been around for centuries and is often associated with financial hardship or emergency situations. When someone 'hocks' an item, they temporarily surrender possession of it to a lender in exchange for a loan, with the understanding that they can redeem the item by repaying the loan with interest. The term is commonly used in British and US English, and is often used in informal contexts.
verbThe act of pawning or pledging something, especially an item of personal property, as security for a loan.
- The act of hocking or pawning
- A type of financial transaction
"He considered hocking his watch to pay off his debts."
"The family had to resort to hocking their belongings to survive."
"The practice of hocking goods has been around for centuries."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hocking
The term 'hocking' is derived from the Old English word 'hōc', which referred to a type of pledge or pawn. The practice of hocking goods has its roots in ancient times, when people would pawn their belongings to secure loans or survive economic hardship. The modern English term 'hocking' emerged in the 17th century, and has since been used in various contexts to describe the act of pawning or pledging.
How hocking is actually used
This term is often used in informal contexts and may have a slightly negative connotation, implying financial hardship.