pothook

American  

[pot-hook] / ˈpɒtˌhʊk /

noun

1. a hook for suspending a pot or kettle over an open fire.

2. an iron rod, usually curved, with a hook at the end, used to lift hot pots, irons, stove lids, etc.

3. an S -shaped stroke in writing, especially as made by children in learning to write.

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pothook British  

/ ˈpɒtˌhʊk /

noun

1. a curved or S-shaped hook used for suspending a pot over a fire

2. a long hook used for lifting hot pots, lids, etc

3. an S-shaped mark, often made by children when learning to write

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Etymology

Origin of pothook

First recorded in 1425–75, pothook is from the late Middle English word pottehok. See pot ¹, hook ¹

Example Sentences

Seven are strictly one-man shows in which the proprietor hustles ads and copy, cribs items from the old newspapers arriving by train, cuts by hand the pothook stencils of the Urdu script.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bobby rose, as he spoke, and planted his feet accurately on the middle pothook of the hearthrug.

From The Dominant Strain by Edwards, H. C. (Harry C.)

There were words on the paper, written in stiff German characters, orthodox and methodical in every turn and upstroke and formal pothook.

From Dreams and Dream Stories by Kingsford, Anna Bonus

There is the familiar circle plain and dotted , the cross in its simplest form +, the pothook and segmented square , all of which recur in the Phoenician, Keltiberian, Etruscan, Libyan or Tuareg systems.

From Man, Past and Present by Haddon, Alfred Court

Shentlemens, vatfor you make de pothook out of de sword and de bayonet, and trow de cartridge-box in de mud?

From "Co. Aytch" Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment or, A Side Show of the Big Show by Watkins, Sam R.