bawk n also bauk, baulk. Greater shearwater (Puffinus gravis); HAGDOWN.
   1924 ENGLAND 177 'Jeeze, what a big burst o' birds down on de landwash! I strick 'em down an' snick 'em down by de t'ousands! Baulks, haigdowns, scurwinks, ahl kinds.' 1940 SCAMMELL 25 "The Shooting of the Bawks": He has to watch the bawks flock 'round, upon a foggy day / And watch them rob his trawls of bait, and watch them fly away. / He's not allowed to shoot them or someone sure will squawk; / For there's a bloody law agin the killin' of a bawk. 1951 PETERS& BURLEIGH 56 The 'Bawk' is perfectly at home on the sea, visiting land only to nest upon remote islands in the South Atlantic. 1959 MCATEE 3 Bauk. Greater Shearwater. (Spelled also balk, and bawk; meaning unknown. Nfld.) C 71-119 The bawks are so thick [on the water] you can walk on them.

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