1876. Clemens [Mark Twain], Tom Sawyer, p. 100. Took his flogging … for playing hookey the day before.
To do (or play) hookey (or hooky), verb. phr. (common).—To apply the thumb and fingers to the nose; to take a sight (q.v.); to coffee-mill (q.v.).
Hookey Walker! (or Walker!) intj. (common).—Be off! go away. Also implying doubt. Cf., with a hook. [Bee: From John Walker, a hook-nosed spy, whose reports were proved to be fabrications.]
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Hookey Walker, An expression signifying that the story is not true, or that the thing will not occur.
1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol [1843], p. 169. ‘Buy it,’ said Scrooge. ‘Walker!’ said the boy.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘Old Woman Clothed in Grey.’ For mere unmeaning talk her Parch’d lips babbled now,—such as Hookey!—and Walker!—She expired, with her last breath expressing a doubt If ‘his Mother were fully aware he was out?’
1840. ‘Characters of Freshmen’ (Whibley, Cap and Gown, p. 183). The pestilent freshman … is very pugnacious, and walking in the streets suddenly turneth and asketh a huge snob ‘what the deuce he meant by that?’ Whereat the snob (having done nothing at all) coolly answereth (as the Pestilent Freshman intended he should) Hooky Walker, provocative of a combat.
Hooking-cow, subs. (Western American).—A cow that shows fight.
1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. One … was … a hooking-cow, and to escape her repeated charges tested all our ability.
Hook-pointed (or Hook-pintled), adj. (venery).—Imperfectly erected. Cf., Lob (q.v.).