rook1

[roo k] /rʊk/
noun
1.
a black, European crow, Corvus frugilegus, noted for its gregarious habits.
2.
a sharper at cards or dice; swindler.
verb (used with object)
3.
to cheat; fleece; swindle.
Origin
before 900; Middle English rok(e), Old English hrōc; cognate with Old Norse hrōkr, Old High German hruoh

rook2

[roo k] /rʊk/
noun, Chess.
1.
one of two pieces of the same color that may be moved any number of unobstructed squares horizontally or vertically; castle.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English rok < Old French roc < Arabic rukhkh < Persian rukh
Examples from the web for rook
  • Although rooks are social birds, they are monogamous and mate for life, making for a relatively stable adult rook society.
  • Two friends, a rook and crow were to be in charge of the fund.
British Dictionary definitions for rook

rook1

/rʊk/
noun
1.
a large Eurasian passerine bird, Corvus frugilegus, with a black plumage and a whitish base to its bill: family Corvidae (crows)
2.
(slang) a swindler or cheat, esp one who cheats at cards
verb
3.
(transitive) (slang) to overcharge, swindle, or cheat
Word Origin
Old English hrōc; related to Old High German hruoh, Old Norse hrōkr

rook2

/rʊk/
noun
1.
a chesspiece that may move any number of unoccupied squares in a straight line, horizontally or vertically Also called castle
Word Origin
C14: from Old French rok, ultimately from Arabic rukhkh
Word Origin and History for rook
n.

"European crow," Old English hroc, from Proto-Germanic *khrokaz (cf. Old Norse hrokr, Middle Dutch roec, Dutch roek, Middle Swedish roka, Old High German hruoh "crow"), possibly imitative of its raucous voice (cf. Gaelic roc "croak," Sanskrit kruc "to cry out"). Used as a disparaging term for persons since at least c.1500, and extended by 1570s to mean "a cheat," especially at cards or dice.

chess piece, c.1300, from Old French roc, from Arabic rukhkh, from Persian rukh, of unknown meaning, perhaps somehow related to the Indian name for the piece, rut, from Hindi rath "chariot." Confused in Middle English with roc.

v.

"to defraud by cheating" (originally especially in a game), 1590s, from rook (n.1) in some sense (e.g. "a gull, simpleton," but this is not attested until 17c.). Related: Rooked; rooking.

Slang definitions & phrases for rook

rook

noun

: Balcony seats for 40 bucks are a real rook

verb

To cheat; defraud; gyp: who would rook them for two dollars (1577+)

[probably fr the thieving habits of the rook, which it shares with other corvine birds like the crow and magpie]