hawkshaw, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

hawkshaw n.

[Hawkshaw the Detective created by Henry Cecil Bullivant in such books as The Ticket-of-Leave Man (1935), itself taken f. The Ticket-of-Leave Man (1863), a play by the English dramatist Tom Taylor (1817–1880); also in the comic strip Hawkshaw the Detective by the American cartoonist Gus Mager (d.1956)]

(US/W.I.) a detective.

[1863		T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act III: Have I the honour to address Mr. Hawkshaw, the detective].
1902		‘Hugh McHugh’ Back to the Woods 59: He didn’t even whimper when the village Hawkshaw snapped the bracelets on his wrist.
1906		A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 68: After this, if you get any more, you’ll have to connect with some other retired Hawkshaw.
1918		E. Wilson ‘Lieutenant Franklin’ in Prelude (1967) 264: Since the frogs have been squealing about the Americans getting too intimate with the Germans, he’s been a regular little Hawkshaw – watching to see that the Americans don’t give any candy to German children.
1925		D. Hammett ‘Dead Yellow Women’ Story Omnibus (1966) 166: It is only because I feared the Emperor of Hawkshaws would find the odor of such low blood distasteful to his elegant nostrils.
1934		B. Appel Brain Guy (2005) 140: ‘You’re all wet, Hawkshaw,’ grinned McMann.
1940		R.L. Bellem ‘Death’s Passport’ in Goodstone Pulps (1970) 115/2: Why – why, hello, Hawkshaw!
1955		Mad mag. July 35: That prince of society doctors – that Hawkshaw of the medical world – Dr. Milo Quackenbush.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 187: Hawkshaw CID officer. A derisive term, originally exclusively US, but used by West Indians.
1989		J. Morton Lowspeak 72: Hawkshaw – (W.I.) the police.