buttonhook

noun

but·ton·hook | \ ˈbə-tᵊn-ˌhu̇k

Definition of buttonhook

1 : a hook for drawing small buttons through buttonholes

2 : an offensive play in football in which the pass receiver runs straight downfield and then abruptly cuts back toward the line of scrimmage

Other Words from buttonhook Example Sentences Learn More About buttonhook

Examples of buttonhook in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The approach establishes the stakes: No access to legal abortions for a long time meant death for many women, who resorted to poking corset ribs, buttonhooks, hairpins and knitting needles through the cervix to disrupt unwanted pregnancies. — Elizabeth Rusch, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buttonhook.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.