Definition

A hooked piece of metal used to hang a pot or kettle over a fire, or to lift hot items.

Example

The chef used a pothook to hang the kettle over the fire.

Conversation

Hey, do you have a spare pothook I could borrow for my camping trip?

Sure, I think I have one in the shed somewhere.

Great! I need it to hang my pot over the fire.

No problem, it should work perfectly for that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'pothook' is formed from 'pot' (from Old English *pott*, meaning a container for cooking) and 'hook' (from Old English *hoc*, meaning a curved or bent tool). A pothook is a hook used to hang a pot over a fire for cooking.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'container for cooking' ('pot') that is 'hung' ('hook') over a fire — that's what a pothook is used for.

Visually Confused Words