dictionary help1. <ornithology> 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.
Origin: AS. Hrc; akin to OHG. Hruoh, ruoh, ruoho, Icel. Hrkr, Sw. Roka, Dan. Raage; cf. Goth. Hrukjan to crow.
(01 Mar 1998)
roof of tympanic cavity, roof of tympanum, roof plate, rooftree < Prev | Next > rooky, room, room, roomage
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