crook

¹

[ krook ]

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)

1. to bend; curve; make a crook in:

   He crooked a finger to get the waitperson's attention.

2. Slang. to steal, cheat, or swindle:

   She crooked a ring from that shop.

verb (used without object)

1. to bend; curve:

   My little toe crooks to the side.

crook

²

[ krook ]

adjective

, Australian.

1. sick or feeble.
2. ill-humored; angry.
3. out of order; functioning improperly.
4. unsatisfactory; disappointing.

Crook

³

[ krook ]

noun

1. George, 1829–90, U.S. general in Indian wars.

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 calledshank a piece of tubing added to a brass instrument in order to obtain a lower harmonic series

verb

1. to bend or curve or cause to bend or curve

adjective

1. informal.
   1. ill
   2. of poor quality
   3. unpleasant; bad
2. go crook or go off crook informal.
   to lose one's temper
3. go crook at or go crook on informal.
   to rebuke or upbraid

Word History and Origins

Origin of crook¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English crok, crouk, from Old Norse krōkr “hook, barb, corner”

Origin of crook²

First recorded in 1875–80; perhaps alteration of cronk

Word History and Origins

Origin of crook¹

C12: from Old Norse krokr hook; related to Swedish krok, Danish krog hook, Old High German krācho hooked tool

Idioms and Phrases

• by hook or crook

Example Sentences

But the crooks are pocketing thousands of dollars while the target is still stuck with the timeshare.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has waged war on the media from day one, referring to them often as “fake,” “crooked” and an “enemy of the state.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump regularly railed against the special counsel in interviews and online, calling him a "crooked person", a "scoundrel" and other insults.

From BBC

Undeterred, many simply turn around and renew their northbound journeys, dodging criminals, crooked cops and Mexican immigration agents.

From Los Angeles Times

By hook or by crook, Napoli are finding the way to accumulate the wins under Conte and the former captain and coach of Juventus is doing well to eradicate the Azzurri’s soft underbelly.

From BBC

Related Words

• racketeer
• robber
• rogue
• scoundrel
• swindler
• villain