Rook , v. t. &
i. [imp. & p. p. Rooked (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Rooking.]
To cheat; to defraud by cheating. "A band of
rooking officials." Milton.
Rook , n. [AS. hrōc; akin to OHG. hruoh,
ruoh, ruoho, Icel. hrōkr, Sw. roka, Dan. raage; cf. Goth.
hrukjan to crow.]
1. (Zoöl.) A European bird (Corvus frugilegus) resembling the crow, but
smaller. It is black, with purple and violet reflections. The base of the beak and the
region around it are covered with a rough, scabrous skin, which in old
birds is whitish. It is gregarious in its habits. The name is also
applied to related Asiatic species.
The rook .
. . should be treated as the farmer's friend.
Pennant. 2. A trickish, rapacious fellow; a cheat; a sharper. Wycherley.
Rook , n. [F. roc (cf. Sp. roque), fr. Per. & Ar. rokh, or rukh, the rook or castle at chess, also the bird roc (in this sense perhaps a different word); cf. Hind. rath a war chariot, the castle at chess, Skr. ratha a car, a war car. Cf. Roll.]
(Chess) One of the four
pieces placed on the corner squares of the board; a castle.
Rook , v. i. To squat; to ruck. [Obs.]
Shak.
Rook (r&oocr;k),
n. Mist; fog. See Roke. [Obs.]
Hear it pronounced