Talk:By hook or by crook

Is it not another possibility that the line "by hook or by crook" is a reference to the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt? They held a hook and a crook, one in each hand for use in ceremony. It has been suggested that these symbols represented the Shepherd's hooked staff used to gently guide and gather the sheep into a flock, and then the Crook, like a flange to punish the sheep when disobedient. Guiding yet firm.
 * If there's any external reference for this possibility feel free to include it! Crcarlin (talk) 18:56, 6 July 2014 (UTC)

The shepherd-based explanation seems far more credible than the Cromwell one which has no external reference, and is tenuous at best. William Cromwell lived from 1502 to 1544, yet the phrase was first recorded in 1380. The article on Loftus Hall mentions Oliver Cromwell, not Richard, and one or two sieges in 1649. Loftus Hall is on the Crook peninsula, near the Hook Lighthouse, but all I can see is a slightly clever application of an existing phrase, nothing to do with its origin. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Effgee123 (talk • contribs) 23:56, 13 June 2015 (UTC)

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Richard III, first Norman invader of Ireland ... right
This entire section was based on an article whose author knew nothing at all about his own history. The Norman invasion of Ireland took place, long, long before the reign of the English king Richard III, (Battle of Bosworth, 1485, anyone?). This alone makes the source unreliable. Is he talking about the Norman invasions or wars between the English and the Irish? From the places involved, sounds English, but who knows? The section could be restored provided it can be re-written without its current plaigirism, and referenced to some other source. ZarhanFastfire (talk) 19:10, 12 August 2017 (UTC)

Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero uses this phrase in his letter "On Friendship" 2601:842:8100:38A0:1E4A:5F29:3C01:DA7A (talk) 02:50, 2 October 2023 (UTC)