ROOK Rook, n. Etym: [F. roc (cf. Sp. roque), fr. Per. & Ar. rokh, or rukh, the rook or castle at chess, also the bird roc (in this sense pehaps a different word); cf. Hind. rath a war chariot, the castle at chess, Skr. ratha a car, a war car. Cf. Roll.] (Chess)
Defn: One of the four pieces placed on the corner squares of the board; a castle.
ROOK
Rook, n. Etym: [AS. hr; akin to OHG. hruoh, ruoh, ruoho, Icel. hr,
Sw. roka, Dan. raage; cf. Goth. hrukjan to crow.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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
Rook, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Rooked; p. pr. & vb. n. Rooking.]
Defn: To cheat; to defraud by cheating. "A band of rooking officials." Milton.
ROOKERY
Rook"er*y, n.; pl. Rookeries (.
1. The breeding place of a colony of rooks; also, the birds themselves. Tennyson.