People who sell goods by walking around and calling out their wares, or birds and people who hunt with hawks.
From Middle Dutch 'hoekster' merged with the hunting sense from 'hawk.' The street-vendor meaning became dominant in English by the 16th century, though both senses coexist. The word implies someone aggressive and mobile in their pursuit.
In many Asian cities today—especially Southeast Asia—hawkers remain a beloved part of street food culture, and the word has come full circle from insulting (desperate peddler) to celebrated (authentic local vendor with culinary tradition).
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