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

Sophie would demand from her seat by the pothook; and Mrs. Cloke would answer, smoothing her knees, "For the sake of the place."

From Actions and Reactions by Kipling, Rudyard

This movement in ordinary methods is represented by the wearisome pothook connected with the first laborious and tedious attempts at writing.

From Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook by Montessori, Maria

Wheeling round, he saw a quaint figure—a huge nose like a pothook, high, massive shoulders, enormous, well-shaped hands, a general impression of uncouthness combined with vigour and geniality.

From The Aspirations of Jean Servien by France, Anatole

His writing was small, compressed, irregular and often far from easy to read; when he suppressed a passage, he used a form of pothook erasure which rendered the condemned phrase absolutely illegible.

From Honore de Balzac by Cooper, Frederic Taber