On ones own hook

Hook \Hook\ (h[oo^]k; 277), n. [OE. hok, AS. h[=o]c; cf. D.
   haak, G. hake, haken, OHG. h[=a]ko, h[=a]go, h[=a]ggo, Icel.
   haki, Sw. hake, Dan. hage. Cf. {Arquebuse}, {Hagbut}, {Hake},
   {Hatch} a half door, {Heckle}.]
   1. A piece of metal, or other hard material, formed or bent
      into a curve or at an angle, for catching, holding, or
      sustaining anything; as, a hook for catching fish; a hook
      for fastening a gate; a boat hook, etc.
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   2. That part of a hinge which is fixed to a post, and on
      which a door or gate hangs and turns.
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   3. An implement for cutting grass or grain; a sickle; an
      instrument for cutting or lopping; a billhook.
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            Like slashing Bentley with his desperate hook.
                                                  --Pope.
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   4. (Steam Engin.) See {Eccentric}, and {V-hook}.
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   5. A snare; a trap. [R.] --Shak.
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   6. A field sown two years in succession. [Prov. Eng.]
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   7. pl. The projecting points of the thigh bones of cattle; --
      called also {hook bones}.
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   8. (Geog.) A spit or narrow cape of sand or gravel turned
      landward at the outer end; as, Sandy Hook in New Jersey.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

   9. (Sports) The curving motion of a ball, as in bowling or
      baseball, curving away from the hand which threw the ball;
      in golf, a curving motion in the direction of the golfer
      who struck the ball.
      [PJC]

   10. (Computers) A procedure within the encoding of a computer
       program which allows the user to modify the program so as
       to import data from or export data to other programs.
       [PJC]

   {By hook or by crook}, one way or other; by any means, direct
      or indirect. --Milton. "In hope her to attain by hook or
      crook." --Spenser.

   {Off the hook}, freed from some obligation or difficulty; as,
      to get off the hook by getting someone else to do the job.
      [Colloq.]

   {Off the hooks}, unhinged; disturbed; disordered. [Colloq.]
      "In the evening, by water, to the Duke of Albemarle, whom
      I found mightly off the hooks that the ships are not gone
      out of the river." --Pepys.

   {On one's own hook}, on one's own account or responsibility;
      by one's self. [Colloq. U.S.] --Bartlett.

   {To go off the hooks}, to die. [Colloq.] --Thackeray.

   {Bid hook}, a small boat hook.

   {Chain hook}. See under {Chain}.

   {Deck hook}, a horizontal knee or frame, in the bow of a
      ship, on which the forward part of the deck rests.

   {Hook and eye}, one of the small wire hooks and loops for
      fastening together the opposite edges of a garment, etc.
      

   {Hook bill} (Zool.), the strongly curved beak of a bird.

   {Hook ladder}, a ladder with hooks at the end by which it can
      be suspended, as from the top of a wall.

   {Hook motion} (Steam Engin.), a valve gear which is reversed
      by V hooks.

   {Hook squid}, any squid which has the arms furnished with
      hooks, instead of suckers, as in the genera
      {Enoploteuthis} and {Onychteuthis}.

   {Hook wrench}, a wrench or spanner, having a hook at the end,
      instead of a jaw, for turning a bolthead, nut, or
      coupling.
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