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 informal.
   go crookgo off crook to lose one's temper
3. go crook at informal.
   go crook atgo crook on 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

Turns out, this is the second notorious crook to come from this small town.

From The Daily Beast

And she was clearly more intelligent than your average crook.

From The Daily Beast

The crook then produces a MetroCard of his own and offers to swipe the would-be traveler through—for a premium price.

From The Daily Beast

Wall Street crook Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, has just taken three very strong, very expired sedatives.

From The Daily Beast

Errichetti was a foul-mouthed megalomaniac and “a crook at heart,” Greene wrote.

From The Daily Beast

I saw every crook in the fence, every rut in the road, every bush and tree long before we came to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Only then did I own that by hook or by crook—and mostly by crook, I was forced to suspect—they had purposely given me the slip.

From Project Gutenberg

I, too, am a shepherd, you know; but a shepherd in black and without his crook is somewhat in the way.

From Project Gutenberg

Frequently the shepherd carries a staff or crook in his hand, on which he sometimes leans, as if weary beneath his burden.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes a milk-pail is represented near a lamb, or hanging on a crook by its side, or even resting on its back.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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