hook
Preserved but no longer current.
An expression at Oxford, implying doubt, either connected with Hookey Walker, or with a note of interrogation (?) "Yes, with a HOOK at the end of it!" i.e., with some reservation, generally that of doubt, by the speaker.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “hook” mean?
An expression at Oxford, implying doubt, either connected with Hookey Walker, or with a note of interrogation (?) "Yes, with a HOOK at the end of it!" i.e., with some reservation, generally that of doubt, by the speaker.
Is “hook” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.