Where does the term "hooker" come from?

Question

Hooker as in prostitute. Does anyone know?

Answer 1

As has been suggested in prior answers, the term hooker came into use during the Civil War. Due to the notoriously slow movement of the large-scale units of the Army of the Potomac, close proximity to "civilization," and General Hooker's taste for these women, the term hooker has ever since been used to refer to prostitutes.

Answer 2

This is the answer to your question:

"hooker
"prostitute," often traced to the disreputable morals of the Army of the Potomac (American Civil War) under the tenure of Gen. "Fighting Joe" Hooker (1863), and the word probably was popularized by this association at that time.

But it is said to have been in use in North Carolina c.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.").

One theory traces it to Corlear's Hook, a disreputable section of New York City. Perhaps related to hooker "thief, pickpocket" (1567), but most likely an allusion to prostitutes hooking or snaring clients.

Hook in the figurative sense of "that by which anyone is attracted or caught" is recorded from 1430; and hook (v.) in the figurative sense of "catch hold of and draw in" is attested from 1577; in reference to "fishing" for a husband or a wife, it was in common use from the 18th Century.(1800). All of which makes the modern sense seem a natural step.

The family name Hooker (attested from c.975 C.E.) would mean "maker of hooks," or else refer to an agricultural laborer who used a hook (cf. O.E. weodhoc "weed-hook")"

So 'hooker' is MOSTLY an allusion to PROSTITUTES hooking or SNARING the CLIENTS..

Hope, it is clear now.

If it is, where is my tenner?

Answer 3

The women that General Hooker allowed to follow his army during the civil war.

Answer 4

I heard that it was General Hooker himself who frequented the prostitutes.

Answer 5

I think it comes from the general Joseph Hooker

The prostitues that followed his army around.

Answer 6

My answer would be because of the term hook - up and then the er was added and up was dropped as to describe the type of person you are describing.