boat hook

American  

noun

1. a hook mounted at the end of a pole, used to pull or push boats toward or away from a landing, to pick up a mooring, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of boat hook

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

In a man-overboard drill, it took me three tries to snag a life ring named “Frank” with a boat hook as one of my fellow students, with great effort, got me within reach.

From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2018

Staff on the Millennium Diamond used a boat hook to grab her clothing.

From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2017

I tried to hang on to it with a boat hook, then dropped that in the water, too.

From Washington Post

The inside liner is molded like a blister pack, a convenient place to mount the USCG-approved life ring and a boat hook.

From Time Magazine Archive

The man nearly overbalanced, but held on to the rail and swung the boat hook round in another attempt.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman