From Old English hōc 'hook, angle,' from PIE *keg- 'hook, tooth.'
A curved piece of metal or other material for catching, holding, or hanging things.
From Old English hōc 'hook, angle,' from Proto-Germanic *hōkaz, from PIE *keg- 'hook, tooth.' The fishing, music ('a catchy hook'), and boxing ('left hook') senses all derive from the idea of something curved that catches or snags. Key roots: *keg- (Proto-Indo-European: "hook, tooth").