hook

¹hook

noun \ˈhu̇k\

Definition of HOOK

1

a : a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling b : something intended to attract and ensnare c : anchor 1

2

: something curved or bent like a hook; especially plural : fingers

3

: a flight or course of a ball that deviates from straight in a direction opposite to the dominant hand of the player propelling it; also : a ball following such a course — compare slice

4

: a short blow delivered with a circular motion by a boxer while the elbow remains bent and rigid

5

: hook shot

6

: buttonhook

7

: quick or summary removal —used with get or give <the pitcher got the hook after giving up three runs>

8

: a device especially in music or writing that catches the attention

9

: a selling point or marketing scheme

10

: cradle 1b(2)

— by hook or by crook

: by any means

— off the hook

1

: out of trouble

2

: free of responsibility or accountability

— on one's own hook

: by oneself : independently

Examples of HOOK

1. She hit a hook into the left rough.
2. He threw a right hook to his opponent's body.

Origin of HOOK

Middle English, from Old English hōc; akin to Middle Dutch hoec fishhook, corner, Lithuanian kengė hook

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HOOK

Synonyms: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, ¹blow, knock, larrup [dialect], lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap)

Related Words: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke; body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut; cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO; bastinado (or bastinade), battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing; flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

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Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

Rhymes with HOOK

book, brook, chook, cook, Cook, crook, look, nook, rook, schnook, shook, snook, stook