Hooker

UK: /ˈhʊkə/ US: /ˈhʊkɚ/ ,(hŏŏk′ər)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Hooker / ˈhʊkə/ noun

1. John Lee. 1917–2001, US blues singer and guitarist
2. Sir Joseph Dalton. 1817–1911, British botanist; director of Kew Gardens (1865–85)
3. Richard. 1554–1600, British theologian, who influenced Anglican theology with The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (1593–97)
4. Sir William Jackson. 1785–1865, British botanist; first director of Kew Gardens: father of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

hook•er¹ /ˈhʊkɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Slang Terms a prostitute.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hook•er¹  (hŏŏk′ər), n. 

1. a person or thing that hooks.
2. Slang Terms prostitute.
3. Slang Terms a large drink of liquor.
4. Slang Terms a concealed problem, flaw, or drawback;
   a catch.
5. Sport [Rugby.] a player who hooks the ball in the front line of scrummage.
6. Slang Terms (cap.) [Offensive.] an Amish Mennonite.

• 1560–70; 1835–45, American. for def. 2; hook¹ + -er¹

hook•er²  (hŏŏk′ər), n. [Naut.]

1. Naval Terms, Slang Terms [Slang.] any old-fashioned or clumsy vessel.
2. Naval Terms any fishing vessel working with hooks and lines rather than nets.

• Dutch hoeker, equivalent. to hoek hook¹ + -er -er¹
• 1635–45

Hook•er  (hŏŏk′ər), n. 

1. Biographical Joseph, 1814–79, Union general in the U.S. Civil War.
2. Biographical Richard, 1554?–1600, English author and clergyman.
3. Biographical Thomas, 1586?–1647, English Puritan clergyman: one of the founders of the colony of Connecticut.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hooker / ˈhʊkə/ noun

1. a person or thing that hooks
2. a prostitute
3. the central forward in the front row of a scrum whose main job is to hook the ball