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

Examples

• The farmer howks the soil to prepare it for planting.
• She howks through the drawer looking for her keys.
• The dog howks at the ground, trying to unearth a buried bone.
• He howks out a small cave in the hillside.
• They howks around in the old attic for forgotten treasures.