A type of fishing boat or sailing vessel, or in rugby, the player in the middle of the front row of the scrum.
From Dutch hoeker, referring to a type of fishing vessel with a distinctive hook-shaped bow. The rugby sense comes from the player's role of 'hooking' the ball back in the scrum.
The original hookers were elegant Dutch fishing boats designed for speed and shallow water navigation, and their distinctive curved bow design influenced shipbuilding across Northern Europe for centuries.
The term carries class and gender baggage; 'hooker' (sex worker) became particularly marked as female and criminalized. The term 'John Hooker' is sometimes attributed as origin, though this etymology is disputed.
When discussing sex work, use 'sex worker' as the preferred term or the person's chosen identifier. 'Hooker' is stigmatizing slang unless the person uses it of themselves.
["sex worker","escort"]
Sex workers—disproportionately women and trans people—have organized for decriminalization and labor protections; organizations like SWOP (Sex Workers Outreach Project) challenge criminalization and stigma.
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