The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hook \Hook\ (h[oo^]k; 277), n. [OE. hok, AS. h[=o]c; cf. D.
   haak, G. hake, haken, OHG. h[=a]ko, h[=a]go, h[=a]ggo, Icel.
   haki, Sw. hake, Dan. hage. Cf. Arquebuse, Hagbut, Hake,
   Hatch a half door, Heckle.]
   1. A piece of metal, or other hard material, formed or bent
      into a curve or at an angle, for catching, holding, or
      sustaining anything; as, a hook for catching fish; a hook
      for fastening a gate; a boat hook, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That part of a hinge which is fixed to a post, and on
      which a door or gate hangs and turns.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. An implement for cutting grass or grain; a sickle; an
      instrument for cutting or lopping; a billhook.
      [1913 Webster]

            Like slashing Bentley with his desperate hook.
                                                  --Pope.
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   4. (Steam Engin.) See Eccentric, and V-hook.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A snare; a trap. [R.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. A field sown two years in succession. [Prov. Eng.]
      [1913 Webster]

   7. pl. The projecting points of the thigh bones of cattle; --
      called also hook bones.
      [1913 Webster]

   8. (Geog.) A spit or narrow cape of sand or gravel turned
      landward at the outer end; as, Sandy Hook in New Jersey.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

   9. (Sports) The curving motion of a ball, as in bowling or
      baseball, curving away from the hand which threw the ball;
      in golf, a curving motion in the direction of the golfer
      who struck the ball.
      [PJC]

   10. (Computers) A procedure within the encoding of a computer
       program which allows the user to modify the program so as
       to import data from or export data to other programs.
       [PJC]

   By hook or by crook, one way or other; by any means, direct
      or indirect. --Milton. "In hope her to attain by hook or
      crook." --Spenser.

   Off the hook, freed from some obligation or difficulty; as,
      to get off the hook by getting someone else to do the job.
      [Colloq.]

   Off the hooks, unhinged; disturbed; disordered. [Colloq.]
      "In the evening, by water, to the Duke of Albemarle, whom
      I found mightly off the hooks that the ships are not gone
      out of the river." --Pepys.

   On one's own hook, on one's own account or responsibility;
      by one's self. [Colloq. U.S.] --Bartlett.

   To go off the hooks, to die. [Colloq.] --Thackeray.

   Bid hook, a small boat hook.

   Chain hook. See under Chain.

   Deck hook, a horizontal knee or frame, in the bow of a
      ship, on which the forward part of the deck rests.

   Hook and eye, one of the small wire hooks and loops for
      fastening together the opposite edges of a garment, etc.


   Hook bill (Zool.), the strongly curved beak of a bird.

   Hook ladder, a ladder with hooks at the end by which it can
      be suspended, as from the top of a wall.

   Hook motion (Steam Engin.), a valve gear which is reversed
      by V hooks.

   Hook squid, any squid which has the arms furnished with
      hooks, instead of suckers, as in the genera
      Enoploteuthis and Onychteuthis.

   Hook wrench, a wrench or spanner, having a hook at the end,
      instead of a jaw, for turning a bolthead, nut, or
      coupling.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

crook \crook\ (kr[oo^]k), n. [OE. crok; akin to Icel. kr[=o]kr
   hook, bend, SW. krok, Dan. krog, OD. krooke; or cf. Gael.
   crocan crook, hook, W. crwca crooked. Cf. Crosier,
   Crotchet, Crutch, Encroach.]
   1. A bend, turn, or curve; curvature; flexure.
      [1913 Webster]

            Through lanes, and crooks, and darkness. --Phaer.
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   2. Any implement having a bent or crooked end. Especially:
      (a) The staff used by a shepherd, the hook of which serves
          to hold a runaway sheep.
      (b) A bishop's staff of office. Cf. Pastoral staff.
          [1913 Webster]

                He left his crook, he left his flocks. --Prior.
          [1913 Webster]

   3. A pothook. "As black as the crook." --Sir W. Scott.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. An artifice; trick; tricky device; subterfuge.
      [1913 Webster]

            For all yuor brags, hooks, and crooks. --Cranmer.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. (Mus.) A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet,
      horn, etc., to change its pitch or key.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. A person given to fraudulent practices; an accomplice of
      thieves, forgers, etc. [Cant, U.S.]
      [1913 Webster]

   By hook or by crook, in some way or other; by fair means or
      foul.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

by hook or by crook
    adv 1: in any way necessary; "I'll pass this course by hook or
           by crook" [syn: by hook or by crook, by any means]