Hooker
With all this talk about hookers this week,
let’s look into the word!
In fact, let’s make a game out of it :wink:
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(102 votes, average: 4.82 out of 5) Loading ...Comments
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My reply to Hooket is numbet one, General Hooker is the culpret.
OK without looking at the video i can define this word by breaking it down ! first part is a HOOK a hook is something that is used to catch something to grab someones attention for anything !
It could be a phrase or one word to used or a physical object to used to catch something as in a hook to catch fish with with this is called a FISH HOOK but by itself will not catch any fish !
YOU need Bait or a lure attached to the hook to catch your prey !
SO a HOOKER is a female or Male that uses her or his best assets to grab your attention for cash for performing a sexual activity !
and i did this only based on real life experiences not needing any search engine or dictionary !
THats MY answer to the WORD HOOKER !
Option #2 is the answer, and “hooker” seems to be an “aptronym”, since an aptronym is a name aptly suited to its owner.
My dad was a military history FANATIC who recounted this story and other such dissertations some 900000000 times
so I am going to say that prostitutes got the title hooker after the side jobs some of the camp followers who were mostly there as laundry women for General Hooker’s troops.
It’s theory 1 I think
. Also aptronym is a name that is especially suited to the profession of its owner. 
Hi again, Marina,
In doing my homework, I came across a bunch of other “nyms” that are really interesting. You may already be aware of them, but check out retronym, oronym, and metonym.
As always, I learn something new every day!
Eric
Hi, im just seeing:
“We’re sorry, this video is no longer available.”
when i click on the video.
Maybe you can reupload it Marina. Would be nice. thx
Works again. Thank you.
Dear Hotforwords,
While we’re being completely honest, I would like to know why guys get lint in their bellybuttons. And I would like to know how the lint knows where the bellybutton is located. Lint cannot think!
And I was also wondering if you girls sometimes get lint underneath your bubbies, in much the same way..?
Thanks!!
***********EARLY APRIL FOOLS!!**********
I’ve often wondered about the meaning of acronyms.
Not so much the meaning of “acronyms” but the “meaning” of acronyms. 
In particular, movies.
The ones I’ve noticed most are the acronyms “A.C.E.”, “A.S.C.”, “C.S.A.” and “B.S.C.”, among others, after the names of certain people in those credits. As I was growing up my brother and I had fun making up words for those letters. As we grew older though, those words became ones I really shouldn’t print here. 
I was wondering if it were posible to investigate this code.
Having grown up on movies I’ve noticed that the ending credits are often full of them.
Seattle Pete
can you tell us the longest word in english language , and her orogin
Hi Marina!
Excellent video, again.
An “aptronym” is a name aptly suited to its owner. Like large person named “Mr. Big,” or a football player named Michael Ball. I’m not sure “General Hooker” is really an aptronym, because he wasn’t a hooker, he was a facilitator of hookers, so the story goes. So, if his name was “General Pimp” then that would be an example of an aptronym. A hooker named, Ms. Grace Goodhead, or something like that, might be an aptronym.
The true origin, I think, of the word “hooker” is the third one (hooking/stealing). This could be an aptronym, since hookers used hooks to steal through windows, so it is said.
The earliest appearance of the word “hooker” is in Norman E. Eliason’s Tarheel Talk in a citation from 1845: “If he comes by way of Norfolk he will find any number of pretty Hookers in the Brick row not far from French’s hotel.” In the second edition of John Bartlett’s Dictionary of Americanisms in 1859; Bartlett defines hooker as “A resident of the Hook, i.e. a strumpet, a sailor’s trull.” Bartlett cites the story of the Hook in New York, but that is, for some reason, doubted as its origin. These sources both pre-date the Civil War by a wide margin, so it couldn’t have originated with General Hooker.
The word “hooker” was also a reference to the prostitute making some money on the side by stealing from the clients. Hooker is an old term for thief. From Thomas Harman’s 1567 A Caueat or Warening For Commen Cursetors, Vulgarely Called Vagabones: “These hokers, or Angglers, be peryllous and most wicked knaves.” Hooker is also a slang term for a boat, from the Dutch hoecker-schip. From Simon Smith’s Royal Fishings of 1641: A Hooker or Wellboat. This slang term for a ship could have gone the way of tramp, another name for a boat that is applied to women of loose morals.
So, I’m going with the third of your choices, since that predates the other two by hundreds of years, and even predates the Dutch hoecker-schip possibility.
Anyway, I hope all is well, and keep up the good work. I learn something new every video.
Thanks,
Eric
P.S. - Do a video about the name “Eric.”
Hi Mary you’re …… what can i say ? excellent or, maybe better, you’re a……. googlestar
The first hypothesis, you know the general, seems the righter, but i don’t care it anymore, i’m just waiting for your SS (tn: sexysolution)
& i’m not also sure if TN can stand for Translation Note
but i’m writing it anymore, just to try improving my country poor little English
i’d send you five stars, but i’ve not understand yet how to subscribe your videos: l’ve to click on Digg-submit??? i’m just trying but it doesn’t work
Please, tell me whyyyyy ore better tell me WHERE ‘ive to push, OK on the right but what kind of key
Excuse me for this poor words, Ah, i’m hardly forgetting: my tennis-friends that are all becoming your students would like to know why the tennis score runs as 15-30-40 instead of 1-2-3 and considering my sparkling curiosity i’d like to know it too
Tanks a google
ah, i’m hardly forgetting again…….i’m not knocking on even doors, for the moment … at least
There is also a way to subscribe to my website and that is on the upper right on the homepage.. and you’ll be emailed when I post something new here.
Marina
Oh and an aptronym is a name aptly suited to its owner. Hence, the term Hooker comes directly from General Hooker.
However, General Hooker was not a hooker. He was more like a pimp. If he was “General Pimp” or something like that, then that would be an aptronym. I think if General Hooker resulted in the word hooker, meaning prostitute, then it would be an eponym, not an aptronym.
However, General Hooker’s name was derived from the profession “maker of hooks” or “hookmaker” which became “hook’r” and “hooker.” Someone in General Hooker’s past was probably a hook maker by trade and took the name “Bob the Hooker” or “Bob Hooker.”
You’re absolutely right. I misinterpreted the meaning. Sorry about that. So, more appropriate examples would be these:
Cecil Fielder: A baseball fielder
Samantha Bond: A girl from the bond movies
Bob Rock: A Rock music producer
But like you said, General Hooker himself wasn’t a hooker or a hook maker by profession so the term aptronym really doesn’t apply here.
The correct answer is the General Hooker Theory. I took a Civil War course last semester and I definitely remember that part.
Hi, Marina.
I’d like to know if there is a difference between the words “Cardamon” and “Cardamom,” as they both seem to be used as though corrects. I was hoping you might shed some light on this.
Thank you!
Devyn
I would have to guess that the correct answer is theory #1.
And please Marina, where does the “word” green room comes from? Its not often we see an all green green room.
oh wait if wayn messed up then the answer is #3 yes? caus there hooking on a fishline?
hi marina, i think i know wich story is corect for hooker and its #1 yes?
by the way can you do a history on this one question?
its called boobs and were did the word come from?
Go to the top of this page, click on lessons, click on boobs. Enjoy.
#3
I want to know about the origin of the word “Phone”
Hello Marina! My absolute favorite word ever is “Shenanigan” and I was wondering what it meant and especially what it’s origin is.
Thanks a lot!
I live in a tourist oriented town, but work in an industrial area, where the city has swept the hookers to. Prostitution here is not illegal but soliciting is. So I run my shops a block or so away from “The Stroll”. I see the girls almost every day and am filled with pity and sometimes rage. The street walkers seem to be the lowest common denominator of “the trade” and are anything but sexy. Some seem to be on deaths door some days, and I’m filled with hate for the guys and dealers that prey on them, but we have to chase them away from our businesses because more than one of our customers have complained about unwanted advances. The girls look way older than they are. I’m sure and the twitching & pacing belies their addictions.
The glamour and mystique attributed to the oldest proffesion reminds me little of the advertising used for say, beer commercials, you never see bud advertised at an AA meeting, or the guys sleeping in the park usually don’t wear jack daniels tee shirts, unless the’re free. One of my employees hasn’t had a drink for close to 15 years but he still struggles with staying dry & admits it.
Don’t want to be a downer tho, thanks for sharing the video Marina good job, but I’m not brave enough to “Favorite” it in my You Tube.
My sons both play with hookers and I’m proud of them. To explain for the americans they play rugby & ironicaly the younger one broke the older ones finger a couple of weeks ago and he’s the only one of my kids that work for me. Tire tech. ouch.
you are so right kind Sr… the oldest profession is NOT glitz and glamor and I want to commend you on NOT favoriting this video on youtube. I love Marina and her website but I admire your conviction and character.
-xavier-
ps: We Americans are not that unsophisticated… we know what a hooker (in reference to rugby) is… lol
hope your eldest son gets better… “PAIN”… COMES WITH THE TERRITORY…
-xavier-
I have to say, I am shocked by this exchange. You admire his conviction and character because he would not “favorite” this video on youtube? I’m not saying he doesn’t have conviction and character, but if he does, it has nothing to do with “favoriting” or “not favoriting” a video on youtube.
If Marina, or anyone else, discusses the meaning and origins of words like “hooker” or “streetwalker” or “harlot” or “whore” or whatever, that is not an encouragement of or glorification of that profession. It’s a word.
By the logic of this exchange, if Marina addressed the etymology of the word “adultery” or “divorce” or “covet” we should not “favorite” them because they have negative connotations.
And, if someone did “favorite” the “hooker” video, would that mean he or she didn’t have character and conviction? How condescending is that?
Yeah I know all Americans aren’t sofisticated, I’ve seen “J walking” on the tonight show. As far as my character, yah you could call it into question sometimes and probably should always. I run an automotive repair shop so I know both sides of the perception equaition, If we fix one thing and something else goes wrong within any given time, it’s usually our fault, or if we fix something for way less than they thought it would cost , we’re heros. Neither is right , but thats the perception. So by saying I’m not brave enough does call into question my character, so I quess that brought about a discussion that probbably used up more bytes of webb space than it deserves.
Marina is brave and she handles the words asked for in a very admirable fashion and keeps it very entertaining as well. How we use words and how we respond to people does say something of our character and also shapes it as well. However as far as favoritng a video on you tube, its public and people we share with draw conclusions whether rightly or wrongly. So is my character bad or good that I don’t want to be perceived wrongly? I do favorite some vids that I want to watch again but I don’t do a frame by frame analysis, probbably why I haven’t found the elusive mole.
Anyways nobody said anything about my kid breaking his finger, not being ironic, but merely unfortunate, unless you knew that the older broke the youngers collar bone in the middle of his baseball season not long before. Not irony either, payback.
Thanks for the response.
You state that, “I’m not brave enough to “Favorite” it in my You Tube.” What is the principal directing your decision? I would just like to understand completely the meaning of your actions. You appreciated the video by saying, “good job” but you do disagree with its subject matter. Can you explain this comment as well? Also, if you are comfortable, what is your opinion regarding those that do “favorite” this particular video and the ramifications of their actions. I haven’t posted any as “favorite” myself. These questions are not the harbingers of dispute. I really want to understand you better. I am not interested in changing your mind, publicly debating you or promoting my own opinion particular to this matter. However I will say this, Bush sucks.
I had the same kind of perplexed reaction to that guy’s post. I mean, what does he mean he disagrees with the subject matter? The subject matter was the etymology of the word “hooker.” It wasn’t “hooking is good” or even “hooking is bad.”
Based on his comments, one would think all mention of the word “hooker” is off limits. No discussions of General Hooker and his hookers. No discussion of T.J. Hooker busting hookers. No fishhooks. Keep the kids home from the Peter Pan show, lest they encounter Captain Hook. I think I may have been taken in by his post, hook, line and sinker.
And, what’s his opinion of those who do “favorite” the video? Obviously, they are “brave” enough to do so, implying that they can close their eyes, steel themselves, and summon all their strength to click the “favorite” button (despite their better judgment). In other words, they are people that can ignore the right course of action, and proceed down this horrid path of “favoriting” a video about the word “hooker.”
I wonder, buzzword, what this Puritan must think of Marina’s discussion of the word fuck on her radio spot? No WAY a moral person would “favorite” that! Oh, wait, “fuck” is o.k…..”fuck for money?” [gasp!]
hookers suck. and if they do it right, they rock.
dude I just wanted more detail, you assume he is a puritan, maybe he is a mormon. I don’t think he has done anything he has to defend. I am not interested in defeating his position. I’m not interested in defending free speech, marina, philology, the U.S.A. or my mother’s reputation. I just didn’t understand the principle behind his actions. If he chooses to explain, I’d be like, “Cool, later dude.” You can invade his country if you’d like, I got better things to do.
Thanks for the questions, sorry to get back to the conversation late. I’ve been working a lot, just split my business in half. The only reason I’m not brave enough to favorite a few videos on you tube is that I do have kids & have been married 25 years & if I favorite a video on you tube you just see the title if you look at the preview. Although I enjoy Marina’s pesentations & do share the Vids with the folks at work & also customers & suppliers etc. Some people I know may be offended.
Actually the discussion of the word Fuck I found quite interesting & as a Pastor freind of mine once told me, “There a certain words that are brought out on special occasions”. Also on the last radio broadcast when the “C” word was discussed, I was quite surprised that Strech, the host, couldn’t say the word in front of Marina but she calmly discussed the origin & as she explained in other cultures it doesn’t carry the same weight & is used quite freely.
I’m not a writer by any means & it takes me way to long to put down in writing my thoughts & when I look at what I wrote the next day I wonder a little at what I was trying to get across.
I’m married to the sister of a well published Canadian writer so its not from my side of the family that my 18 year old son gets his literary chops. A couple of years ago he won the top award at his school after reluctantly writing a short story. The picture he painted with his words were so well written that I could smell the urine in the stairwell he described. He seems to be a happy well adjusted kid but he could tell a story of utter despair that made me feel the emotion. I’m just a tad jealous.
The Canadian in me wants to apologize for taking up so much room on HFW’s website about this subject & I don’t for a second begrudge Marina explaining where the word Hooker came from, it’s quite enlightning, but I did want to comment on societys treatment as to how hookers are portrayed. Sometimes a light needs to be shined down some alleys every now and then to see the people that are behind the myths or whatever you call them.
In our neighbouring city a guy got away with murdering a large number of girls and probably because of their proffesion & societys attitude towards them, he got away with it far to long. My sister in law wrote the words to a song about the girls whose family members greive their deaths. I say kill the bastard before more trials but the judicial system drags on and on while he becomes famous, or is it infamous, I’ll have to go back to the lesson.
Anyways I’m glad that something I wrote sparked a little interest and thanks for asking, it may not clear it up as Itend to ramble once Iget started.
Sorry, buzzword.. I used the word “puritan” in the figurative sense of anyone with an overly stuffy sense of morality. I, too, didn’t understand the principle behind his statements, which is why I raised the same questions you did in the first place.
Obviously, I’ve offended you in some way, since you don’t appear to be joking with me. If I have, sorry about that.
Cool, later dude. Thanks for the reply.
Hi my dear Teacher
Would you please talk about the origin of the word Fuck? Why is this word so popular? How it became such a magic word that can be used as any part of a sentence?
Thank you,
Hamid6724
i think you should give this link a visit
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-f-word.ht m
Netlore Archive: In which we are told — with a straight face — that the word ‘fuck’ originated as the acronym of ‘Fornication Under Consent of the King’ (or some variation thereof)
The General.
Marina, what is the origin of the word “fart
?”
Hi Teach,
I thinks it came from the CIVIL WAR General “Fighting Joe Hooker”
Hi, Teach,
I was wondering about the origin of the word…NERD! How in the evolutionary world of semantics did this term pop up? Thanks, Marina.
i have a super special request that would mean alot to me
I am a marine
marines are called “devil dogs”
tell me the origin of the nickname “devil dogs”
PRETTY PEASE!!!
Probably originates from the delicious snack cake, Drake’s Devil Dogs. http://www.famousfoods.com/drdedoca2pa.html
Hi! I want to make a request, It may seem silly though. I was wondering if the term Widow is related to the spider name Black widow. Is one based of the other for the obvious similarity of mates dieing or is it only a coincedence?
Well, the 2nd sounds most likely…
Btw, what is the origin of the word “Quirky”? The term applies to itself, and I’m curious how a word came to start with the letter “q”…
Marina, could you please explain the connection between the names of echo-locating nocturnal flying mammals and wooden clubs utilised for hitting balls (if there is any)
Cheers.
hi
Word Request for Marina:
I want to know the origin of the word “University” and if it is related to the word “Universe”
I hope I can see it in one of your videos
Greetings
Hitman
Since St. Patrick’s day is 2 days away I have a themed request.
Whiskey/Whisky, where does the name come from and why do Ireland and Scotland spell it differently?
I really enjoy the High-Quality versions of your recent videos.
Even though the image quality will never match the quality of the content… In full-screen mode you look FANTASTIC!
Keep up the great work!
i think its #2;oh and marina can you look up the origin of the word “shoplifting” i wonder where that came from
What is the actual meaning and origin of Funky
what is the origen of the word blog
Short for “web log.” A log is something you make daily entries in, like a ship’s log.
Gritsai
wonderful. I dig the accent too.
I would like to know where the word “DUDE”
come from. I know this is an easy one for you.
Also thank you for introducing me to the world of Philology.
Cheers
Hi Marina, I would like to learn the origin of the phrase “Spend A Penny”. I loved the last lesson by the way
Thank you, Teacher
Hi, Been abscent from class for a bit. Great story telling, I’d like to vote for story one but story three is the more likely winner.
I once knew a guy with the sir name Lush….he lived up to his name but unfortunately had an early exit from this world due to being one.
Dear Teacher
One good idea, when you get enough ad support which I am sure you will, is to create a little sound proofing for your place, it can even be temporary, so something you just put on your windows during shoots. I suppose later you’ll have a sound proofed studio, but in the meantime, you can avoid the annoying traffic sounds outside this way. Now, I requested a word, but I suppose I didn’t do it correctly :oops:. I am going to use the Hebrew word, because there isn’t an actual English word that does it justice, and because of this there seems to be a lot of linguistic confusion surrounding it. The word is Eloheem, plural for Eloah, which is rendered as god in English. Now my problem is that sometimes Eloheem is used as a singular word, and other times it’s used as a plural word, sometimes it has a capital G, sometimes a little g. There is much much more I can say about this word, but I think I’ll leave the rest up to you, what can you tell us about this word?
a zurgler funged at his fafty thagger to gremolate the nuntler’s frodgy and wuggy plines.
you’ll easily figure out which words in the above sentence are nouns, which are adjectives, and so on.
how?
such obscenities should not be permitted!
duh. look who’s talking. the ball dude. :/
By recognizing and uderstanding the use of the basics such as articles, suffixes, prepositions, personal pronouns, and so on.
my word request is hinkey
as always loved your last video hooker
(redneckforwords )
Hi Marina, i’d like to know if you can figure out why when people smoke they call it Blaze,Blazed, or Blazing. I usually think of it as a sort of fire but my friends think of it as something referring to smoking. So i’d appreciate it if you can figure this one. TY
I would like to know the origin of the word ‘fuck’. The story I heard was that is the acronym ‘for use in carnal knowledge.’
Marina did this word on the Maxim radio interview number two… it was very entertaining… you can listen here:
http://www.hotforwords.com/2008/02/22/maxim-radio- stretch-show-2nd-appearance/
I think theory 3. Also aptronym is a name that is especially suited to the profession of its owner.
awesome! I’d like to request the word “Incredible”.
#3
p.s.– also wanted to know the origin of the word ‘WOW’
thanks
Wow… that isnt a real word i dont think…
it is slang for amazing / fantastic etc…
it is a real word. an interjection.
hey marina!
i am really impressed with ur way of teaching people philology n etymology…..my mother teaches english too…sometimes she has trouble coming up with ideas to make her students remember certain words…..but when i saw a few videos of yours i realized that its not entertaining but also i remember the words and their meanings pretty easily……
keep up the good work!
love,
sid.
Hey i was wondering if u can crack this one ADORABLE.
Hi Marina:
OK hot stuff, here is a word for you to discuss. Actutually it’s two words that basically have the same meaning. The difference is they are seperated by a milenium.
In a way they define who I am to everyone who get’s to know me. OK so here they are:
1) re’a
2) philos
Some great food for thought, because it reminds us of who we are and in Who’s immage we are made in.
Thanks
MrCounty1441
(aka Ken)
Damn Girl! That horn pissed You off! Did You get up on the wrong side or something?!
QUOTE
” Jeremiah Johnson: Y’ever get lonesome?
Bear Claw Grizlap: Fer what?
Jeremiah Johnson: Woman?
Bear Claw Grizlap: Full time night woman? I never could find no tracks on a woman’s heart. I packed me a squaw for ten year, Pilgrim. Cheyenne, she were, and the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads. I lodge-poled her at Deadwood Creek, and traded her for a Hawken gun. But don’t get me wrong; I loves the womens, I surely do. But I swear, a woman’s breast is the hardest rock that the Almighty ever made on this earth, and I can find no sign on it.
How about doing *lodge-poled* and/or *sign*?
Hey Marina can u send me that song that u played in the end? Tnx
Love your lessons.
Hey Marina. I think that the answer is the first one. I would like to suggest a word as well: catywompus.
Not quite sure what it means or where it came from.
Thanks
Rosestar17
number one. and aptronym means a name that matches it’s owners occupation or character. It applies because hookers got their names from the General.
thank you for pointing that out. I thought I had typed it in that way, but I guess that I miss typed.
How is General Hooker’s name an aptronym? Do you mean in the sense that one of General Hooker’s ancestors was probably a hooker (meaning a maker of hooks), such that the name Hooker is an aptronym of the profession “hookmaker?” If so, I can see your point.
However, I thought aptronyms were more applicable to names of a person that coincide aptly with their professions (not just any profession). Such as “Michael Ball” is a football/soccer player. And, there was an arctic explorer whose name was “Will Snow.”
Hi Marina,
Yes, I think you are correct. The name “Hooker” would have to be in use as another word in order to be “aptly suited” to him for sure. But, wouldn’t it also have to have some connection to his profession or person?
This part I’m not certain about - but, let’s say General Hooker’s grandfather, Ned Hooker (or whatever), was a maker of hooks. So, his name was was an aptronym, because it is aptly suited to him. However, General Hooker, although he has the same name, would not have an aptronym name because General Hooker doesn’t make hooks (or otherwise hook things).
For example, let’s say that a guy who plays soccer happens to have the name John Kicker. That would be an aptronym. But his daughter, Sally Kicker, a double-amputee, would not have an aptronym name (for obvious reasons).
What do you think?
Yes, you are correct. It can be like “Joe Fisher” who is a sport fisherman, or Doug Dart, who plays darts. So, it doesn’t have to apply to a profession.
I haven’t known you to be wrong yet, Marina!
Eric
The answer is the 3rd one, from England. Thieves using hooks. (I too heard it on Maxim Radio a few days ago.)
The other two sounded very plausible though. Good job on the two made up stories Marina!
Ya I watched the Radio Show so I won’t be able to participate. “Aptronym” means a person’s surname that relates to their profession.
I did the same thing, watched the Radio show I mean but didn’t see it. sorry i’m just learning this reply thing.
This game is easier if you hear Maxim Radio Third Show…
Yes, but is was interesting watching the vid none-the-less.
I did like the back and forth between Marina and the host on the radio show. That gave it a different kind of dynamic.
Great video, I vote for General Hooker’s story…
The civil war story
Uhhh, yeah, that’s the one…
The answer I believe is the first one, and for your extra credit atronym is a name that is especially suited to the profession of its owner. It applies to this word by prostitues working at the hookers headquarter’s.