crook1

[kroo k] /krʊk/
noun
1.
a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc.; hook.
2.
the hooked part of anything.
3.
an instrument or implement having a bent or curved part, as a shepherd's staff hooked at one end or the crosier of a bishop or abbot.
4.
a dishonest person, especially a sharper, swindler, or thief.
5.
a bend, turn, or curve:
a crook in the road.
6.
the act of crooking or bending.
7.
a pothook.
8.
Also called shank. a device on some musical wind instruments for changing the pitch, consisting of a piece of tubing inserted into the main tube.
verb (used with object)
9.
to bend; curve; make a crook in.
10.
Slang. to steal, cheat, or swindle:
She crooked a ring from that shop.
verb (used without object)
11.
to bend; curve.
Origin
1125-75; Middle English crok(e) < Old Norse krāka hook

crook2

[kroo k] /krʊk/
adjective, Australian.
1.
sick or feeble.
2.
ill-humored; angry.
3.
out of order; functioning improperly.
4.
unsatisfactory; disappointing.
Origin
1875-80; perhaps alteration of cronk

Crook

[kroo k] /krʊk/
noun
1.
George, 1829–90, U.S. general in Indian wars.
British Dictionary definitions for crook

crook

/krʊk/
noun
1.
a curved or hooked thing
2.
a staff with a hooked end, such as a bishop's crosier or shepherd's staff
3.
a turn or curve; bend
4.
(informal) a dishonest person, esp a swindler or thief
5.
the act or an instance of crooking or bending
6.
Also called shank. a piece of tubing added to a brass instrument in order to obtain a lower harmonic series
verb
7.
to bend or curve or cause to bend or curve
adjective
8.
(Austral & NZ, informal)
  1. ill
  2. of poor quality
  3. unpleasant; bad
9.
(Austral & NZ, informal) go crook, go off crook, to lose one's temper
10.
(Austral & NZ, informal) go crook at, go crook on, to rebuke or upbraid
Word Origin
C12: from Old Norse krokr hook; related to Swedish krok, Danish krog hook, Old High German krācho hooked tool
Word Origin and History for crook
n.

early 13c., "hook-shaped instrument or weapon," from Old Norse krokr "hook, corner," cognate with Old High German kracho "hooked tool," of obscure origin but perhaps related to a widespread group of Germanic kr- words meaning "bent, hooked." Meaning "swindler" is American English, 1879, from crooked in figurative sense of "dishonest" (1708). Crook "dishonest trick" was in Middle English.

Slang definitions & phrases for crook

crook

noun

A habitual or professional criminal; a consistently dishonest person: The chief said, ''I'm not a crook'' (1870s+)

verb

To steal: He crooked my socks (1940s+)


Idioms and Phrases with crook

crook

In addition to the idioms beginning with crook crook one's elbow also see: by hook or crook
Encyclopedia Article for crook

in brass musical instruments, detachable piece of metal tubing inserted between the mouthpiece and the main tubing or in the middle of the tubing to lengthen the air column produced. This manipulation allows the player to obtain notes not included in the harmonic series of the original air column. Crooks were in use at least by about 1600 and were used extensively by the late 18th century. They were superseded in the 19th century by valves, which, unlike crooks, allowed instantaneous changes in basic air-column pitch

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