hooker1
/ˈhʊkə
/noun
1 Rugby The player in the middle of the front row of the scrum, who tries to hook the ball.Paul was impressive last week against Salford after switching from scrum half to hooker early on after Aaron Smith suffered a head injury....
- The changes included a first cap for substitute flank Tim Dullane and a complete reshuffle of the front-row to accommodate reserve hooker Hanyani Shimange.
- The man who stood out in the lineouts against the Italians was new captain Bobby Skinstad, but the wet conditions will make it difficult for the hookers to get the ball in straight when throwing at the back.
2 informal, chiefly North American A prostitute.She winced at the sight of them, holding onto his hand out of fear that they would grab her and lead her into their world of hookers and prostitutes....
- It's full of hookers and prostitutes, and you may even be lured into their traps.
- On the other end of the spectrum is Tim, 47, a writer, who confessed to his now-wife that he used to see street hookers regularly.
Rhymes
hooker2
/ˈhʊkə/noun
1A one-masted sailing boat of a kind used especially in Ireland for fishing.Hookers were used throughout the West of Ireland for over a hundred years, as both fishing boats and cargo vessels....
- Galway's traditional fishing vessel known as 'the hooker', is an intricate piece of craftsmanship and the sight of her strikingly elegant sails has always been a feature of Galway Bay.
1.1 Nautical, informal An old boat.The sun burned through the haze of the spume filled sky as the gallant old hooker drove down each wave.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Dutch hoeker, from hoek 'hook' (used earlier in hoekboot, denoting a two-masted Dutch fishing vessel).
hooker3
/ˈhʊkə/noun North American informal
A glass or drink of undiluted brandy, whisky, or other alcoholic spirit: he took the bottle out and poured them each a stiff hooker...
- When he hung up, he poured himself a stiff hooker of gin.
- After this surprising display of gratitude he took his guests into the house and treated them to a couple of stiff hookers of excellent cognac.
Origin
Mid 19th century: of unknown origin.