3. (streets).—A contemptuous or sarcastic affirmation, accompanied by
the gesture of taking a sight (q.v.) or playing hookey (q.v.).
4. (thieves’).—A crook of thick iron wire in a wooden handle, used to
undo the wooden bolts of doors from without.
1801. Edgeworth, Irish Bulls, With that I ranges ’em fair and even
on my hook ’em snivey, up they goes.
Hooked, adj. (old).—See quot.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hookt, over-reached, Snapt,
Trickt.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Hooker, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A thief; an angler (q.v.). Also, (modern)
a watch-stealer; a dip (q.v.). Cf., quots. 1567 and 1888.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 35. These hokers, or Angglers, be
peryllous and most wicked knaues, ... they customably carry with
them a staffe of v. or vi. foote long, in which, within one ynch of
the tope thereof, ys a lytle hole bored through, [leaf 9] in which
hole they putte an yron hoke, and with the same they wyll pluck
vnto them quickly any thing that they may reche ther with.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 8 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874). 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.
d. 1626. John Davies, Scourge of Folly, p. 34. [Wks., Ed. Grosart].
A false knaue needs no brokers, but a broker Needs a false knaue (a
hangman or a hooker).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hookers, the third Rank of
Canters; also Sharpers.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. No strange Abram,
ruffler crack, hooker of another pack.
1888. Tit Bits, 17 Nov., p. 82, col. 2. There are usually three men
in a gang; the hooker having got into conversation with his man,
number two ‘covers’ his movements, whilst number three (on the
opposite side of the street) keeps a look-out for the ‘enemy.’ The
hooker, having by careful manipulation got a hold of the desired
prize, detaches it from the chain by breaking the ring and passes
it to number two, who in turn passes it on to number three, from
whom it is usually transferred to a receiver and melted down within
a few hours of its being purloined.
2. (American).—A prostitute: i.e., a fisher, angler, or Hooker of men.
For synonyms, see Barrack Hack and Tart.
Hookey. To play hookey, verb. phr. (American).—To play truant; to do
Charley-wag (q.v.).
1876. Clemens [Mark Twain], Tom Sawyer, p. 100. Took his flogging
... for playing hookey the day before.
To do (or play) hookey (or hooky), verb. phr. (common).—To apply the
thumb and fingers to the nose; to take a sight (q.v.); to coffee-mill
(q.v.).
Hookey Walker! (or Walker!) intj. (common).—Be off! go away. Also
implying doubt. Cf., with a hook. [Bee: From John Walker, a hook-nosed
spy, whose reports were proved to be fabrications.]
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Hookey Walker, An expression
signifying that the story is not true, or that the thing will not
occur.
1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol [1843], p. 169. ‘Buy it,’ said
Scrooge. ‘Walker!’ said the boy.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘Old Woman Clothed in Grey.’ For
mere unmeaning talk her Parch’d lips babbled now,—such as
Hookey!—and Walker!—She expired, with her last breath expressing a
doubt If ‘his Mother were fully aware he was out?’
1840. ‘Characters of Freshmen’ (Whibley, Cap and Gown, p. 183). The
pestilent freshman ... is very pugnacious, and walking in the
streets suddenly turneth and asketh a huge snob ‘what the deuce he
meant by that?’ Whereat the snob (having done nothing at all)
coolly answereth (as the Pestilent Freshman intended he should)
Hooky Walker, provocative of a combat.
Hooking-cow, subs. (Western American).—A cow that shows fight.
1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. One ... was ... a hooking-cow,
and to escape her repeated charges tested all our ability.
Hook-pointed (or Hook-pintled), adj. (venery).—Imperfectly erected.
Cf., Lob (q.v.).
Hook-pole Lay, subs. phr. (old).—Pulling a man off his horse by means
of iron hooks at the end of a long pole, and plundering him. (Smith,
Lives of Highwaymen, III., 192, 1720).
Hook-shop, subs. (American).—A brothel. [Hooker (q.v.) = prostitute.]
For synonyms, see Nanny-shop.
Hoop, subs. (American).—1. A ring.