Rook, a cheat, or tricky gambler; the opposite of “pigeon.”
Rook, to cheat, to play “rook” to another’s “pigeon.”
Rook, a clergyman, not only from his black attire, but also, perhaps, from the old nursery favourite, the History of Cock Robin.
“I, says the ROOK,
With my little book,
I’ll be the parson.”
Rookery, a low neighbourhood inhabited by dirty Irish and thieves—as St. Giles’s ROOKERY.—Old. In military slang that part of the barracks occupied by subalterns, often by no means a pattern of good order.
Rooky, rascally, rakish, scampish.
Roost, synonymous with [PERCH], which see.
Rooster, a cock, whether bantam, game, barndoor, or of any other kind. This is an Americanism which obtains full currency on the other side of the Atlantic, though its use would infer that hens do not roost. As the outcome of transpontine delicacy it must, however, be respected.
Rooter, anything good, or of a prime quality; “that is a ROOTER,” i.e., a first-rate one of the sort.
Rope, to lose a race of any kind purposely, to swindle one’s backers or the public by means of a “cross” or pre-arranged race, in which the best man or best horse is made to ROPE, or run behind.