hooky

1

or hook·ey

[ hook-ee ]
/ ˈhʊk i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hooky ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

unjustifiable absence from school, work, etc. (usually used in the phrase play hooky): On the first warm spring day the boys played hooky to go fishing.

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Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
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Origin of hooky

1
1840–50, Americanism; perhaps alteration of phrase hook it escape, make off

Words nearby hooky

hooktender, hook-tip, hookup, hookworm, hookworm disease, hooky, hooley, hoolie, hooligan, hooly, hoon

Definition for hooky (2 of 2)

hooky2
[ hook-ee ]
/ ˈhʊk i /

adjective, hook·i·er, hook·i·est.

full of hooks.
hook-shaped.

Origin of hooky

2
First recorded in 1545–55; hook1 + -y1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to hooky

vacancy, absenteeism, truancy, nonattendance, nonappearance, no show, truantry

Example sentences from the Web for hooky

British Dictionary definitions for hooky

hooky

hookey

/ (ˈhʊkɪ) /

noun

informal, mainly US, Canadian and NZ truancy, usually from school (esp in the phrase play hooky)

Word Origin for hooky

C20: perhaps from hook it to escape
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with hooky

hooky

see play hooky.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.