noun
crotchet
A small hook or hooked instrument.
She uses a crotchet to pull the thread through the loop.
Etymology
The Old French word already means a small hook. This concrete sense preserves the pointed, curved form of the implement rather than its figurative mental use.
More examples
- The crotchet catches the wire and draws it closer.
- He keeps several small crotchets in his tool kit.
- The bent tip of the crotchet slips beneath the cord.
Forms
crotchet · crotchets
Similar words
- hook
- A broader term for a curved catching or holding device.