Hookey/hooky

Origin of: Hookey/hooky

Hookey/hooky

As in to play hookey or play truant, is American from the 1840s. Americans have three theories about the origin; the Dutch hoekje meaning to hide, play hooky meaning to go fishing, and finally hook it meaning to depart or run off quickly. All three are unproven; hence the OED maintains the origin is unknown.