1. past tense of 'howk': to dig or root out; to excavate or hollow out
Usage: chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect; informal
2. past tense of 'howk': to poke or prod; to search or rummage through something
Usage: chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect; informal

Examples

• He howked at the soil with his spade to plant the seeds.
• She howked through the drawer looking for her keys.
• The dog howked a hole in the garden.
• They howked out the old tree stump from the ground.
• He howked around in the cupboard for a clean cup.
• The miners howked deep into the hillside.
• She howked at the wound with a stick to remove the splinter.