Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Hook
Hook
(hoŏk; 277)
, Noun.
1.
A piece of metal, or other hard material, formed or bent into a curve or at an angle, for catching, holding, or sustaining anything;
as, a
hook
for catching fish; a hook
for fastening a gate; a boat hook
, etc.2.
That part of a hinge which is fixed to a post, and on which a door or gate hangs and turns.
3.
An implement for cutting grass or grain; a sickle; an instrument for cutting or lopping; a billhook.
Like slashing Bentley with his desperate
hook
. Pope.
5.
A snare; a trap.
[R.]
Shak.
6.
A field sown two years in succession.
[Prov. Eng.]
7.
pl.
The projecting points of the thigh bones of cattle; – called also
hook bones
. By hook or by crook
, one way or other; by any means, direct or indirect.
Milton.
“In hope her to attain by hook or crook.” Spenser.
– Off the hook
, freed from some obligation or difficulty;
as, to get
. off the hook
by getting someone else to do the job[Colloq.]
– Off the hooks
, unhinged; disturbed; disordered.
[Colloq.]
“In the evening, by water, to the Duke of Albemarle, whom I found mightly off the hooks that the ships are not gone out of the river.” Pepys.
– On one’s own hook
, on one's own account or responsibility; by one's self.
[Colloq. U.S.]
Bartlett.
– To go off the hooks
, to die.
[Colloq.]
Thackeray.
– Bid hook
, a small boat hook.
– Chain hook
. See under
– Chain
. Deck hook
, a horizontal knee or frame, in the bow of a ship, on which the forward part of the deck rests.
– Hook and eye
, one of the small wire hooks and loops for fastening together the opposite edges of a garment, etc.
– Hook bill
(Zool.)
, the strongly curved beak of a bird.
– Hook ladder
, a ladder with hooks at the end by which it can be suspended, as from the top of a wall.
– Hook motion
(Steam Engin.)
, a valve gear which is reversed by V hooks.
– Hook squid
, any squid which has the arms furnished with hooks, instead of suckers, as in the genera
– Enoploteuthis
and Onychteuthis
. Hook wrench
, a wrench or spanner, having a hook at the end, instead of a jaw, for turning a bolthead, nut, or coupling.
Hook
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Hooked
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Hooking
.] 1.
To catch or fasten with a hook or hooks; to seize, capture, or hold, as with a hook, esp. with a disguised or baited hook; hence, to secure by allurement or artifice; to entrap; to catch;
as, to
hook
a dress; to hook
a trout.Hook
him, my poor dear, . . . at any sacrifice. W. Collins.
2.
To seize or pierce with the points of the horns, as cattle in attacking enemies; to gore.
3.
To steal.
[Colloq. Eng. & U.S.]
To hook on
, to fasten or attach by, or as by, hook.
Hook
,Verb.
I.
1.
To bend; to curve as a hook.
Webster 1828 Edition
Hook
HOOK
,Noun.
1.
A piece of iron or other metal bent into a curve for catching, holding and sustaining any thing; as a hook for catching fish; a teeter-hook; a chimney-hook; a pot-hook, &c.2.
A snare; a trap.3.
A curving instrument for cutting grass or grain; a sickle; an instrument for cutting or lopping.4.
That part of a hinge which is fixed or inserted in a post. Whence the phrase, to be off the hooks, to be unhinged, to be disturbed or disordered.5.
A forked timber in a ship, placed on the keel.6.
A catch; an advantage. [Vulgar.]7.
In husbandry, a field sown two years running. [Local.]By hook and by crook, one way or other; by any means, direct or indirect.
HOOK
,Verb.
T.
1.
To seize and draw, as with a hook.2.
To fasten with a hook.3.
To entrap; to ensnare.4.
To draw by force or artifice.To hook on, to apply a hook.
HOOK
,Verb.
I.