crook
From LSJ
stick: Ar. and P. βακτηρία, ἡ, V. βάκτρον, τό, σκῆπτρον, τό.
curve, bend: V. ἀγκών, ὁ, P. καμπτήρ, ὁ (Xen.).
by hook or by crook: P. παντὶ τρόπῳ.
strive to avoid death by hook or by crook: P. μηχανᾶσθαι ὅπως ἀποφεύξεται πᾶν ποιῶν θάνατον (Plato, Ap. 39A).