Saying

[Magkent]

What is the meaning of the phrase, By hook or by crook?

[Quizmonster]

It means nothing is going to stop me from doing this thing...whatever it is. As to the origin of the phrase, here's what The Oxford English Dictionary - the 'bible' of English etymology and origins - has to say (quote): "As to the origin of the phrase, there is no evidence." If the OED scholars don't know, nobody does!
It goes on to refer to the multitudes of fanciful stories made up to explain it..."Most of them at variance with chronology"...that is, they are 'nonsense' tales, as far as historical accuracy goes. Still, here are a couple of those explanations...
1. Firewood on the local lord's land could be taken by villagers, if it was within the distance from the fence that could be reached by a shepherd's crook or a reaper's billhook.
2. Oliver Cromwell, when he was besieging Waterford in Ireland, said he would take the city by Hook or by Crook. Notice the capital letters, because the two headlands near the city were, apparently, called 'Hook' and 'Crook'.
The real answer is: "Nobody knows."

[jocook17]

I think it may relate to being forced to do something.

Like the old comedy move of dragging someone off stage literally by hook around their neck.

so to drag someone away with a shepherds crook - or hook onto them to keep them near - just a thought