Definition

A sharp, curved piece of metal used to catch fish by piercing their mouths.

Example

He carefully attached a fishhook to his fishing line before casting it into the water.

Conversation

I need to buy a new fishhook for our fishing trip this weekend.

Good idea! The old one got rusty, right?

Yeah, and I lost it in the water last time we went.

Let’s check the tackle shop; they should have some good fishhooks there.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fishhook → The word is formed from "fish" (from Old English *fisc*, meaning a gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate) and "hook" (from Old English *hōc*, meaning a curved or bent tool). Together, these parts describe a tool used for catching fish by hooking them.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'fish' as an aquatic creature and a 'hook' as a tool that curves to catch it — that's why a fishhook is used to catch fish.

Visually Confused Words