rook

¹ American  

[rook] / rʊk /

noun

1. a black, European crow, Corvus frugilegus, noted for its gregarious habits.

2. a sharper at cards or dice; swindler.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cheat; fleece; swindle.

rook ² American  

[rook] / 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.

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rook ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

1. slang (tr) to overcharge, swindle, or cheat

rook ² British  

/ rʊk /

noun

1. Also called: castle.  a chesspiece that may move any number of unoccupied squares in a straight line, horizontally or vertically

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Etymology

Origin of rook¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English rok(e), Old English hrōc; cognate with Old Norse hrōkr, Old High German hruoh

Origin of rook²

1300–50; Middle English rok < Old French roc < Arabic rukhkh < Persian rukh

Explanation

A rook is a crow-like black bird that lives in northern Europe. To rook someone is to trick them, like a sneaky old crow. And in chess, the rook is the piece that looks like a tower or a castle. You can tell the difference between a rook and a crow, which are both members of the bird family Corvus, by the pale skin around a rook's bill in front of its eyes and the shaggy feathers around its legs. Urban rooks, like their crow cousins, prefer areas near human activity where they can scavenge food — although they also eat earthworms and insects. You're most likely to see rooks in northern Europe, Iceland, and parts of Scandinavia (or on a chess board :) .

Example Sentences

But on the 55th move, Ding committed a fatal blunder – moving his rook into a position to be taken.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024

At the far end of one row, Officer Richard Kruse claimed an easy victory over Jessie Milo after knocking his rook out with a bishop.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2024

Nxe3 Bf6!, again disdaining the rook on h4 to keep the attack humming.

From Washington Times • Dec. 19, 2023

“If you make the right moves in the right steps, it can become a rook, it can become a queen, it can become a bishop,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2023

There was the king, queen, rook, bishop, knight...

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson