ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English pothoke, from pot (I) + hoke, hok, hook hook
1. : a hook in the form of a long or short S for hanging pots over an open fire from a crane or a bar in the throat of a chimney — called also hake
2. : an iron collar worn as punishment especially by a captured runaway slave — usually used in plural
3.
a.
(1) : a written letter or character resembling a pothook in shape and used in teaching writing — see hanger 4
(2) : writing marked by letters so formed
it is impossible to decipher her pothooks
b. slang : a nine of any suit in a pack of playing cards