hooker

plural hookers

1. One who, or that which, hooks.
2. ball gamesA player who hooks the ball out of the scrum with his foot.

   Hooker Dylan Hartley was sent to the sin-bin after yet another infringement at the breakdown and, on the stroke of half-time, Georgia's territorial advantage finally told when number eight Basilaia surged over from the base of the scrum for a try next to the posts.

   2011 September 18, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia”, in BBC Sport

3. ball gamesA batsman or batswoman adept at or fond of playing hook shots.

   I once saw Hassett drop England opening batsman and compulsive hooker, Cyril Washbrook, twice in succession at deep fine leg.

   1990, Ashes: Battles and Bellylaughs, Byron Bay: Swan Publishing, page 32

4. A crocheter.
5. datedinformalSynonym of hook (“attention-grabbing element of a creative work”).

   We regard the first seven seconds of a television commercial as the most critical or crucial in the whole unit — the "Do or Die Seven" — the "moment of decision" or the "hooker", if you will, when we must capture the attention of the viewer, get him involved in the action, […]

   1966, Charles Anthony Wainwright, The Television Copywriter, page 39

   Synonyms: hook

6. archaicthieves' cantA thief who uses a pole with a hook on the end to steal goods.

   Suffer none, from far or near, / With their rights to interfere; / No strange Abram, Ruffler crack— / Hooker of another pack—

   1834, William Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, volume 2, Oath of the Canting Crew, page 339

   1 more example

   They are sure to be clyd in the night by the angler, or hooker, or such like pilferers that liue upon the spoyle of other poore people.

   c. 1608–1610, Samuel Rid, Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell

   Synonyms: angler, nuthook

plural hookers

1. USslangA prostitute.First known use 1845

   All my life, been hustling / And tonight is my appraisal / 'Cause I'm a hooker selling songs / And my pimp's a record label

   2018, Brendon Urie, Michael Angelakos, Sam Hollander, Morgan Kibby, Jake Sinclair, Dillon Francis, “Hey Look Ma, I Made It”, in Pray for the Wicked, performed by Panic! at the Disco

2. datedslang1920s to 1940sAn imprecise measure of alcoholic drink; a "slug" (of gin), or an overlarge gulp.

   Emily had cut short these 3 A.M. glooms with a hooker of bourbon.

   1993, Herman Wouk, The Hope (novel), page 675

plural hookers

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of hookah.

plural hookers

1. A small fishing boat.

   In England there are Brighton Beach boats, Centre-board sloops, Pollywogs, Lough Erne yachts, Unas, New Brighton sailing-boats, yachts of the Norfolk Broads, Itchen, Clyde sailing and Keystone boats, Penzance luggers, Cobbles, Galways, Hookers and Pookhauns […]

   1884, James Douglas Jerrold Kelley, American Yachts: Their Clubs and Races, page 161

   Synonyms: Galway, Galway hooker

2. derogatoryslangnauticalAny antiquated craft.

   [T]he poor Flash is gone, and there is an end of it. Poor old hooker. Hey, Almayer? You made a voyage or two with me. Wasn’t she a sweet craft?

   1896, Joseph Conrad, chapter II, in An Outcast of the Islands, London: T. Fisher Unwin […], →OCLC, part III, pages 182–183

   1 more example

   […] for there was scarce one of us that thought the old hooker would weather so long and hard a blow. We were mighty fortunate to come through it so handily.

   1914 October – 1916 July, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Mucker, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., published 31 October 1921, →OCLC

1. A surname originating as an occupation for a maker of hooks.
2. A number of places in the United States:
   1. An unincorporated community in Tehama County, California.
   2. An unincorporated community in Dade County, Georgia.
   3. An unincorporated community in Clay County, Kentucky.
   4. A ghost town in Pulaski County, Missouri.
   5. Two townships in Nebraska, in Dixon County and Gage County.
   6. An unincorporated community in Fairfield County, Ohio.
   7. A small city in Texas County, Oklahoma.
   8. An unincorporated community in Turner County, South Dakota.