skyhook

American  

[skahy-hook] / ˈskaɪˌhʊk /

noun

1. a fanciful hook imagined to be suspended in the air.

2. any of various lifting devices, as one hung from a helicopter, designed to lift heavy loads to distances beyond the reach of a jib crane.

3. a high, arching hook shot in basketball.

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Etymology

Origin of skyhook

First recorded in 1910–15; sky + hook ¹

Example Sentences

On April 5, 1984, he took a pass from Johnson and sank his signature skyhook against the Utah Jazz to surpass Wilt Chamberlain’s career total of 31,419 points.

From Washington Post • Feb. 7, 2023

His skyhook offloads and change of pace have added another dimension to Saracens' game this season as the Premiership leaders show more ambition and adventure with ball in hand.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2022

When the veteran star spots Johnson, he grudgingly gives the rookie a private lesson, demonstrating how the skyhook is not just another shot but a way to elevate above opponents and “the world.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2022

The master of the skyhook remains the leading scorer in NBA history.

From Fox News • Dec. 16, 2021

Then the person twisted and I stopped cold, blinking and wondering if this were a hallucination and I'd wake up in the starship's skyhook, far out in space.

From The Door Through Space by Bradley, Marion Zimmer