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Origin of rogue
First recorded in 1555–65; apparently short for obsolete roger begging vagabond, orig. cant word
SYNONYMS FOR rogue
Related formsout·rogue, verb (used with object), out·rogued, out·ro·guing.un·der·rogue, noun
Can be confusedrogue rouge
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for rogue
British Dictionary definitions for rogue
rogue
/ (rəʊɡ) /
noun
verb
- (tr) to rid (a field or crop) of plants that are inferior, diseased, or of an unwanted variety
- to identify and remove such plants
Word Origin for rogue
C16: of unknown origin; perhaps related to Latin rogāre to beg
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for rogue
rogue
1560s, "idle vagrant," perhaps a shortened form of roger (with a hard -g-), thieves' slang for a begging vagabond who pretends to be a poor scholar from Oxford or Cambridge, which is perhaps an agent noun in English from Latin rogare "to ask." Another theory [Klein] traces it to Celtic (cf. Breton rog "haughty"); OED says, "There is no evidence of connexion with F. rogue 'arrogant.' "
In playful or affectionate use, "one who is mischievous," 1590s. Meaning "large wild beast living apart from the herd" is from 1859, originally of elephants. Meaning "something uncontrolled or undisciplined" is from 1964. Also common in 17c. as a verb. Rogue's gallery "police collection of mug shots" is attested from 1859.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper