A hook is a

tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates b ...

consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one end of the hook is pointed, so that this end can pierce another material, which is then held by the curved or indented portion. Some kinds of hooks, particularly

fish hook A fish hook or fishhook, formerly also called angle (from Old English ''angol'' and Proto-Germanic ''*angulaz''), is a hook used to catch fish either by piercing and embedding onto the inside of the fish mouth (angling) or, more rarely, by impal ...

s, also have a barb, a backwards-pointed projection near the pointed end of the hook to ensure that once the hook is embedded in its target, it can not easily be removed.

Variations

Bagging hook A sickle, bagging hook, reaping-hook or grasshook is a single-handed agricultural tool designed with variously curved blades and typically used for harvesting, or reaping, grain crops or cutting succulent forage chiefly for feeding livestock, ei ...

, a large sickle or reaping hook used for harvesting grain * Bondage hook, used in sexual bondage play *

Cabin hook A latch or catch (called sneck in Northern England and Scotland) is a type of mechanical fastener that joins two (or more) objects or surfaces while allowing for their regular separation. A latch typically engages another piece of hardware on t ...

, a hooked bar that engages into an eye screw, used on doors * Cap hook, hat ornament of the 15th and 16th centuries *

Cargo hook (helicopter) A cargo hook is a device suspended below a helicopter and allows the transport of external loads during flight. Common terms for this operation include slingwork, underslung loads, external loadwork, and external load operations. Hook types P ...

, different types of hook systems for helicopters *

Crochet hook A crochet hook (or crochet needle) is an implement used to make loops in thread or yarn and to interlock them into crochet stitches. It is a round shaft pointed on one end, with a lateral groove behind it. The point eases the insertion of the hook ...

, used for crocheting thread or yarn *

Drapery hook The drapery hook is a hook designed for hanging drapery. It is often concealed within the drape's header tape The distinctive shape shown in the figure, with a sharp end and a blunt end, was patented by James William McGhee (1882–1968) in th ...

, for hanging drapery * Dress hook, fashion accessory * Ear hook, to attach earrings *

Fish hook A fish hook or fishhook, formerly also called angle (from Old English ''angol'' and Proto-Germanic ''*angulaz''), is a hook used to catch fish either by piercing and embedding onto the inside of the fish mouth (angling) or, more rarely, by impal ...

, used to catch fish * Flesh-hook, used in cooking meat *

Grappling hook A grappling hook or grapnel is a device that typically has multiple hooks (known as ''claws'' or ''flukes'') attached to a rope; it is thrown, dropped, sunk, projected, or fastened directly by hand to where at least one hook may catch and ho ...

, a hook attached to a rope, designed to be thrown and snagged on a target * Hook and chain coupler *

Hook (hand tool) A hook is a hand tool used for securing and moving loads. It consists of a round wooden handle with a strong metal hook about 8" long projecting at a right angle from the center of the handle. The appliance is held in a closed fist with the hook p ...

, also known as longshoreman's hook and bale hook, a tool used for securing and moving loads *

Hook-and-eye closure A hook-and-eye closure is a simple and secure method of fastening garments together. It consists of a metal hook, commonly wire bent to shape, and an eye (or "eyelet") of the same material into which the hook fits. History The hook and eye clo ...

, a clothing fastener *

Hook and loop fastener Hook-and-loop fasteners, hook-and-pile fasteners or touch fasteners (often referred to by the genericized trademark velcro, due to the prominence of the Velcro Brand) consist of two components: typically, two lineal fabric strips (or, alterna ...

Lifting hook A lifting hook is a device for grabbing and lifting loads by means of a device such as a hoist or crane. A lifting hook is usually equipped with a safety latch to prevent the disengagement of the lifting wire rope sling, chain or rope to which th ...

, for grabbing and lifting loads *

Mail hook ] A catcher pouch was a mail bag used by railway post offices of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. Its use was limited to exchanges onto moving trains. The specially constructed catcher pouch was grabbed by the catcher mecha ...

, for grabbing mail bags without stopping a train *

Meat hook A meat hook is any hook normally used in butcheries to hang meat. This form of hook is a variation on the classic S hook. Types *An S-shaped hook or jointed hook is used to hang up meat or the carcasses of animals such as pigs and cattle ...

, for hanging up meat or carcasses of animals in butcheries and meat industry *

Prosthetic hook In medicine, a prosthesis (plural: prostheses; from grc, πρόσθεσις, prósthesis, addition, application, attachment), or a prosthetic implant, is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trau ...

or transradial prosthesis, part of a prosthetic arm for amputees * Purse hook, used to keep a woman's purse from touching the floor * Shepherd's hook, a staff used in herding sheep or other animals *

Siege hook A siege hook is a weapon used to pull stones from a wall during a siege. The method used was to penetrate the protective wall with the hook and then retract it, pulling away some of the wall with it. The Greek historian Polybius, in his ''Histor ...

, an Ancient Roman weapon used to pull stones from a wall during a siege *

Tailhook A tailhook, arresting hook, or arrester hook is a device attached to the empennage (rear) of some military fixed-wing aircraft. The hook is used to achieve rapid deceleration during routine landings aboard aircraft carrier flight decks at sea, ...

, used by aircraft to snag cables in order to slow down more quickly

References

Tools Ironmongery {{tool-stub