roke
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of roke
First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain; perhaps originally dialect (N England) roke, rawk “to scratch, flaw”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"B roke it in nine places," Eugene Roach was saying.
From Time Magazine Archive
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This simple instrument is a very portable one; and well fitted to the social inclination of meeting in a neighbour’s house; hence the phrase of going a rocking, or with the roke.
From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Robert Burns
The old English has fote, fode, loke, coke, roke, etc., for foot, etc.
From A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II by David Eugene Smith
"It is the sea roke," he said; "we must hurry."
From Notwithstanding by Mary Cholmondeley
The moor was driegh, and Meg was skiegh, Her favour Duncan could na win; For wi’ the roke she wad him knock.
From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Robert Burns
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.