crookn.adj.

Brit.

/krʊk/, U.S.

/krʊk/

Forms: Middle English croc, Middle English–1500s croke, Middle English Scottish and northern cruk, Middle English–1500s crok, kroke, Middle English–1500s cruke, Middle English–1700s crooke, 1500s–1800s Scottish cruik, Middle English– crook.

Origin: Apparently a borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymon: Norse krókr.

Etymology: Middle English crōk, crōc, apparently < Old Norse krókr (Swedish krok, Danish krog) crook, hook, barb, trident; unknown elsewhere in Germanic, but apparently belonging to the same ablaut series (krak-, krôk), as Old High German chracho, chracco hook; compare Old Norse kraki boat-hook. The parallelism of form and meaning with croche n.¹, crose n. is notable in sense 2. Relationship between the ablaut series krak-, krôk, and that to which crutch belongs, cannot at present be asserted.

A. n.

1. An instrument, weapon, or tool of hooked form; a hook. spec. †(a) a reaping-hook, sickle; (b) a hook for grappling or catching; (c) a hook or bent iron on which anything is hung; e.g. one of the iron hooks on which a gate hangs: esp. in ‘crooks and bands’ (see band n.¹ 3); a hook in a chimney for hanging a pot or kettle on, a pot-hook. Hence as black as the crook (Scottish).

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > punishment > torture > instrument or place of torture > [noun] > hook

awelOE

crookc1290

ungle1483

trip-hook1846

society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > types of tools generally > [noun] > hooked

awelOE

crookc1290

gaffa1300

kroket1426

crotchetc1430

cromec1440

buttonhook1788

claw1815

box hook1852

hook1869

window pole1888

the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > harvesting equipment > [noun] > reaping tools > sickle

hooka700

sicklea1000

crookc1290

cycle1387

reap hook1388

reaping hook1578

knife-hooka1599

crotchet1833

the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that by which something is suspended > hook

hookc900

crookc1290

rackhook1457

tenter1592

tenterhook1888

cup hook1895

the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > gate > hinges, hooks, etc.

crookc1290

resta1522

vardle1525

thimble1550

fimble1597

vartiwell1763

c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 99/241 And hire bresten fram hire bodi with Irene crokes rende.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Cleopatra. 640 In gooth the grapenel so ful of crokis.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18104 He..brast þe brasen yates sa strang, And stelen croc þat þai wit hang.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 40 Quen corne is coruen with crokez kene.

c1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 1161 Rakes, crookes, adses, and bycornes.

1453 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 160 Pro nayles et crokes emptis pro magnis portis.

1522 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 153 j blake worsted kirtle, and the gretter golde crokes.

1587 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 26 For fowre bands & crookes, vj d.

1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. 177 As ane dur is tourned on the cruuks (quhilk in latin ar called cardines).

1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xxiv. 152 Hang them [pigs when killed]..to the crookes set vp in some vaulted roofe.

a1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1785) 167 Till in a birn beneath the crook They're singit wi' a scowder.

1826 W. Scott Jrnl. 17 Jan. (1939) 70 With a visage as black as the crook.

1848 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 9 ii. 420 The ends of each rafter are turned in the form of a gate-crook.

1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma lvi. 256 From whose lofty ceiling hung the crooks, from whence used to dangle the..legs of..mutton.

†2. A crooked claw, as of a beast or fiend; passing into sense ‘clutch’. (Cf. clutch n.¹ 1 – 3.)In reference to fiends the sense is often doubtful; some hooked or barbed instrument may have been meant.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > [noun] > possession and control > possession and power or clutches

gripOE

handgripOE

crook?c1225

fist1297

fangera1300

holtc1375

in one's clawsc1386

clutcha1529

handgripe1534

clamps1548

clums1567

clamsa1569

embracement1599

pounce1614

embracea1627

the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > paw or foot > foot with claws > talon or claw

clawa700

clivera1000

naillOE

cleafre?c1225

cleche?c1225

crook?c1225

clutchc1230

cleec1250

pawc1330

cromea1400

clawrec1400

pouncea1475

talons?a1475

ungle1481

ongle1484

gripe1578

sere1606

unce1609

pouncer1704

unguisc1790

griff1820

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 81 Þe cat of helle..droch ut al..wið crokede crokes.

a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 77 Uorte worpen up on ou his crokes [a1250 Titus hore clokes; ?c1225 Cleo. hise cleches].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 25060 Þas oþer þat his lagh forsok, He kest þam in þat feindes croke.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 23252 Strang paine es it on þam to loke, And namli laght vntil þair crok.

a1400 Cov. Myst. 209 Out of thi [Satan's]..cruel crook By Godys grace man xal be redempt.

14.. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 98 The deville caught him in his croke.

†3. A barbed spear. (So in ONorse.) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > spear or lance > [noun] > barbed spear

crooka1500

partisan1542

pheona1618

harpoon1625

angon1683

jag-spear1864

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1607 Sith he pullith at his croke, So fast in to the flesh it toke, That oute myȝt he gete it nought.

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1577 He bare on his nek a croke..It was twelfe ffote and more.

a. A shepherd's staff, having one end curved or hooked, for catching the hinder leg of a sheep.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > [noun] > crook

sheep-crookc1420

crookc1430

staffc1475

hook?1523

sheep-hook?1523

c1430 J. Lydgate Chorle & Bird xlviii. in Ashm. 223 A Chepys Croke to the ys better than a Launce.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 104 Croke, or scheype hoke, pedum.

1656 A. Cowley Davideis i. 4 in Poems I Sing the Man who Judahs Scepter bore In that right hand which held the Crook before.

1720 J. Gay Dione iii. ii, in Poems II. 476 Leaning on her crook, Stood the sad nymph.

1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leics. 240 Where the sickle holds the place of the shepherd's crook.

b. The pastoral staff of a bishop, abbot or abbess, shaped like a shepherd's staff; a crosier.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > artefacts > implement (general) > staff > [noun] > bishop's

staffa1122

bat?c1225

bagle1330

crosec1330

potent1348

crookc1386

croche14..

cley-staffc1440

baculc1449

cross-staffa1464

pastoral staff?a1475

crosier's staff1488

crosier1500

crose-staff1549

pastoral1658

beagle-rod1664

tau staff1843

tau1855

tau crosier1900

c1386 G. Chaucer Friar's Tale 19 (Tyrwh.) Er the bishop hent hem with his crook [Harl. & 6-text hook].

c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iii. xxiv. 149 This crook and this S shewen wel that j am an abbesse.

1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend i. 34 The Priests came flocking in..With all their crosiers and their crooks.

a. Any hooked or incurved appendage, e.g. a tendril of a plant, one of the hooks on the fruit of the burdock, etc.; the curved or hooked part of anything, e.g. of a walking-stick; the ‘crosier’ of a fern.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > ferns > [noun] > parts of

crooka1398

brake-root1626

indusium1807

membranula1821

sorus1832

foot1862

crosier1874

fruit-dot1880

fiddle-head1882

saddle1882

fern-cup1888

stomium1905

annulus-

the world > space > shape > curvature > [noun] > a curve > curved part

crooka1398

bowing1519

bending?1523

roundinga1582

bent1587

bendc1600

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. clxxvii. 1068 Þilke boundes [read bondes] by þe whiche it takeþ and byclippeþ tres and stakes ben ycleped caprioli... Þise ben crokes of þe vynes.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. viii. 15 Upon the braunches there groweth small bullets..garnisshed full of little crookes or hookes.

1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 2 The..thorns, or crooks, or hairs of leaves.

1850 Florist Mar. 87 The young fronds of the..Ferns uncurling their crooks.

†b. A curl or roll of hair formerly worn. Obsolete. (Cf. crocket n.¹ 1.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > curled or frizzed style > a curl

crocket1303

crookc1308

crotchet1589

lock1601

bergera1685

beau-catcher1818

sausage curl1828

spit-curl1831

crimp1855

kiss-curl1856

follow-me-lads1862

Alexandra curl1863

bob-curl1867

pin-curl1873

Montague1881

quiff1890

kiss-me-quick1893

c1308 Sat. People Kildare x, in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 154 Þoȝ ȝur crune be ischave, fair beþ ȝur crokes [rhyme bokes].

c1325 Poem Times Edw. II in Pol. Songs (Camden) 327 A myrour and a koeverchef to binde wid his crok [rhyme bitok].

?a1400 Morte Arth. 3352 Cho kembede myne heuede That the krispane kroke to my crownne raughte.

1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Crok, the turning up of the hair into curls.]

c. A crooked or incurved piece of timber.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood in specific form > [noun] > naturally or artificially bent wood

knee-timber1612

knee1679

cramble1788

crook1802

bent-wood1862

1802 Naval Chron. 8 373 The..futtocks are all got from natural grown crooks.

1806 Hull Advertiser 11 Jan. 2/2 Oak Timber, consisting of Knees and Crooks, peculiarly well adapted for Ship Building.

d. Bell-founding. (See quots.)

ΚΠ

1857 W. C. Lukis Acct. Church Bells 21 The crook is a kind of compass formed of wood, and is used for making the moulds.

1872 H. T. Ellacombe Church Bells Devon i. 7 The core is first..moulded as described by the action of the crook.

6. A small space, or piece of ground, of a crooked shape; an odd corner, nook.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > [noun] > wedge-shaped piece of land

crook1417

gore1523

pike1523

goring1886

the world > space > shape > angularity > [noun] > angular object > angular extremity or fragment

cornera1330

nookc1380

crook1417

angle1582

1417 Searchers Verdicts in Surtees Misc. (1890) 11 A cruke of Robert Feriby grund.

c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. lvi. 34 In sum anglet or in sum..crook or cornere.

1717 in Quarter Sessions Rec. (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1890) VIII. Other small parts [of a farm] called crookes and crinkles.

1839 W. Irving Chron. Wolfert's Roost (1855) 50 It was full of nooks and crooks, and chambers of all sorts and sizes.

†7. plural. Brackets (in printing), parentheses. Obsolete. (Cf. crotchet n.¹ 8.)

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > printing > printed matter > printed character(s) > [noun] > square bracket

crooks1641

column1658

crotchet1676

1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 16 Though it be cunningly interpolisht..with crooks & emendations.

1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VI. xxxi. 123 Amongst my father's papers, with here and there an insertion of his own, betwixt two crooks, thus [ ].

8. Musical Instr.

a. An accessory piece of curved tubing to be added to a metal wind instrument, as a horn or cornet, to lower the pitch, so as to adapt it to the key of the piece of music in which it is to be used.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > brass instruments > [noun] > parts of > other parts

crook1842

shank1885

tuning-slide1885

mouth pipe1973

1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xviii The trumpeter..pulling out one crook from another.

1880 G. Grove Dict. Music I. 750 The difference of pitch [in the Horn] being provided by the various crooks.

b. The crooked metal tube connecting the body with the reed of a bassoon.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > woodwind instruments > [noun] > reed instrument > bassoon > part of

crook1880

1880 G. Grove Dict. Music I. 150 [The bassoon] consists of five pieces..the crook, wing, butt, long joints, and bell.

9. A support or frame of wood, bent in a particular way, formerly slung in pairs panier-wise across the saddle of a pack-horse for carrying loads. (Somerset and Devon.)

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > [noun] > framework for attaching packs to saddle

crook1657

crub1890

1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 89 Small pack-saddles, and crookes..laying upon each Crook a faggot.

c1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 225 Carryages on horses backes..with sort of crookes of wood like yokes either side..in which they stow y^e corne and so tie it with cords.

1791 J. Collinson Hist. & Antiq. Somerset II. 34 The crops are..carried in with crooks on horses.

1850 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 11 ii. 739 The corn is often harvested in crooks on horses' backs.

1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (at cited word) It used to be as common to say ‘I'll send a horse and crooks’ as it is now to say ‘horse and cart’. Both kinds are now very rarely seen.

10.

a. The act of crooking; esp. a bending of the knee or of the body in sign of reverence (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > curvature > [noun] > action or process

crookc1330

bowinga1398

bending1398

embowing1430

inflection1531

bent1567

curving1594

flexure1600

curbing1601

crooking1607

incurvation1608

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > bowing, kneeling, or curtseying > a bow or curtsey

crookc1330

beckc1375

obediencec1390

obeisancea1393

reverencec1400

inclinationa1425

courtesy1508

curtsy1513

honour1531

leg1548

duck1554

beisance1556

jouk1567

congee1577

crouch1597

humblesso1599

inclinabo1607

salaam1613

dop1616

scrape1628

bowa1656

visit-leg1673

couchee1691

dip1792

bob1825

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1816 Ffor-setten byfore, and eke byhynde, Wyþ crokes ilkon oþer gan bynde.

1605 B. Jonson Sejanus i. i. 204 He is the now Court-God; And well applied With sacrifice of Knees, of Crookes, and Cringe.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. iii. 64 A well-aimed crook of the heel or thrust of the loin.

b. In polo, an act of crooking an opponent's stick (see crook v.¹ 6).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > equestrian sports except racing > polo > [noun] > actions

knock-out1894

safety1896

hit-in1930

crook1935

1935 Times 18 June 5/5 Captain Ansell..scored with a 60 yards penalty given for a foul crook.

11. A bending or curve, a convolution, e.g. of a river, path, the intestines, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [noun] > straight or constant direction > deviation from > a turn

crookingc1380

turnc1390

bightc1400

crook1486

turnagain1545

creek1596

creeking1610

return1610

sinuositya1774

bend1879

1486 Bk. St. Alban's E vij b Of the nomblis..theys oder crokes and Roundulis bene.

1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos ii. (R.) Through lanes and crokes and darknes most we past.

1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Biij Sea eylis rare, that be Myle longs, in crawling cruikis of sixtie pace.

1623 C. Butler Feminine Monarchie (rev. ed.) v. sig. M2^v Let it downe by a cord tied to some crooke of the bough.

1686 Bp. G. Burnet Some Lett. conc. Switzerland v. 262 The Rhine maketh a crook before it.

1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 594/1 Old homely ways, whose crooks..she knew by heart.

1887 R. L. Stevenson Underwoods i. xiv. 29 The crooks of Tweed.

†12. figurative. A crooked piece of conduct; a trick, artifice, wile; deceit, guile, trickery. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception

wrenchc888

swikec893

braida1000

craftOE

wile1154

crookc1175

trokingc1175

guile?c1225

hocket1276

blink1303

errorc1320

guileryc1330

sleightc1340

knackc1369

deceitc1380

japec1380

gaudc1386

syllogism1387

mazec1390

mowa1393

train?a1400

trantc1400

abusionc1405

creekc1405

trickc1412

trayc1430

lirtc1440

quaint?a1450

touch1481

pawka1522

false point?1528

practice1533

crink1534

flim-flamc1538

bobc1540

fetcha1547

abuse1551

block1553

wrinklec1555

far-fetch?a1562

blirre1570

slampant1577

ruse1581

forgery1582

crank1588

plait1589

crossbite1591

cozenage1592

lock1598

quiblin1605

foist1607

junt1608

firk1611

overreach?1615

fob1622

ludification1623

knick-knacka1625

flam1632

dodge1638

gimcrack1639

fourbe1654

juggle1664

strategy1672

jilt1683

disingenuity1691

fun1699

jugglementa1708

spring1753

shavie1767

rig?1775

deception1794

Yorkshire bite1795

fakement1811

fake1829

practical1833

deceptivity1843

tread-behind1844

fly1861

schlenter1864

Sinonism1864

racket1869

have1885

ficelle1890

wheeze1903

fast one1912

roughie1914

spun-yarn trick1916

fastie1931

phoney baloney1933

fake-out1955

okey-doke1964

mind-fuck1971

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11635 Þa wære he þurrh þe deofless croc. I gluterrnesses fallenn.

a1225 Leg. Kath. 125 Wið alle hise crefti crokes.

1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 161 He soughte nought the worldes croke [rhyme boke] For veine honour ne for richesse.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 740 Þe nedder..þat mast kan bath on crok and craft.

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 192 With sich wylys and crokys.

a1556 T. Cranmer Answer to Bp. Gardiner (T.) For all your bragges, hookes, and crookes, you have such a fall.

1594 Willobie his Auisa xxxvii. f. 35 The wise will shunne such craftie crookes.

13. One whose conduct is crooked; a dishonest person, swindler, sharper. Originally U.S. colloquial. Now esp. a professional criminal or an associate of criminals.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > criminality > criminal person > [noun]

felon1297

wandelard1338

malefactora1438

malfetoura1450

stigmatic1597

stigmatist1607

criminal1610

mug1865

crook1879

heavy man1926

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > crookedness > [noun] > person

crook1879

society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker

waryOE

wandelard1338

breakerc1384

malefactora1438

law-breakerc1440

misgovernora1449

malfetoura1450

wrongdoer1501

contravener1567

criminal1610

contravenary1614

mug1865

crook1879

outlaw1880

punter1891

kink1914

heavy man1926

crim1927

antisocial1945

villain1960

banduluc1977

society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [noun] > dishonesty > dishonest person

shondc725

makeshift1554

roundabout1605

fraudsman1613

trickster1711

bug1785

fly-by-night1796

twister1834

rigger1859

shyster1877

crook1879

heel1914

wide boy1937

1879 Chicago Tribune 6 Feb. 5/2 The Times still continues its attacks upon the Government officials in the interest of the Pekin and Peoria crooks.

1882 Sydney Slang Dict. 3/1 Crook, a thief and burglar. One who gets his living on the best.

1886 American Local Newspr. The photographs of several English cracksmen along with one of a New York crook.

1891 H. Campbell Darkness & Daylight 470 Gamblers, pickpockets and other ‘crooks’ abound.

1891 Sun (N.Y.) 19 June 6/4 (Funk) The slang word ‘crook’ now bids fair to be recognized in the statutes and consequently to be adopted as good English in the courts of law. A bill regulating admissions to the prison at Marquette excludes, among other classes of individuals specified, those known to be ‘crooks’ in police parlance.

1896 Westm. Gaz. 17 July 2/1 A crook what kep a little crib Dad went to when things was too lively.

1903 Daily Chron. 3 Nov. 5/4 All the saloon-keepers, and gamblers, and crooks, and confidence men, in fact all the predatory elements of society are..working for a Tammany victory.

1909 Daily Chron. 19 June 3/2 The people here..are clever and rather interesting scamps. Were they on a slightly lower social level they would be called ‘crooks’.

1949 ‘J. Tey’ Brat Farrar x. 81 A very..intelligent crook. On the highest level of crookery.

1953 ‘M. Innes’ Christmas at Candleshoe xiii. 150 ‘The fact is that a gang of crooks——’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ Miss Candleshoe is wholly at sea. ‘The fact is that a band of robbers is prowling about outside this house now.’

14. dialect.

Categories »

a. ‘The crick in the neck; a painful stiffness, the effect of cold’. Craven Gloss. 1828.

Categories »

b. ‘A disease of sheep, whereby their heads are drawn on one side.’ Craven Gloss. 1828.

15. Phrases.

a. †on crook, a-crook: crookedly, in a crooked course. Obsolete. on the crook: dishonestly. slang.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [adverb] > off the direct line > bendingly or windingly

a-crooka1387

acrooka1387

crooked1545

windingly1576

bendingly1658

serpentinely1762

tortuously1839

meanderingly1865

snakily1870

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > wrongly or in error [phrase] > astray

on crooka1387

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > [adverb] > in a wrong way, amiss

on missc1225

overthwarta1382

a-crookc1500

awrya1513

wide?1529

astray1535

across1559

bias1600

outa1641

beside the bridge1652

on the wrong side of the post1728

abroad1806

off1843

way off1882

off beam1941

up the boohai?1946

society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [phrase] > dishonestly

by stealth1390

on the cross1802

on the crook1879

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 53 Humber..renneþ first a crook out of þe south side of York.

c1425 Hampole's Psalter Metr. Pref. 38 Many out of bales browȝt, þ^t in lywyng went on croke.

c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 1887 How long shalt thow looke, Daryng as a dastard, on yon portrayture?..thy wytte stant a crooke.

a1525 Court of Love 378 And truly, ellis the mater is a-croke.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iv. iii. sig. F.iij^v This gear goth acrook.

1879 Macmillan's Mag. 503 (Farmer) Which he had bought on the crook.

1881 C. Rossetti Pageant & Other Poems 177 Our spirits immersed In wilfulness, our steps run all acrook.

b. crook in one's lot: something untoward or distressing in one's experience: an affliction, trial. Scottish.

ΚΠ

a1732 T. Boston (title) The Crook in the Lot; or the Wisdom and Sovereignty of God displayed in the afflictions of men.

a1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1767) 14 The crook in the lot is the special trial appointed for every one.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 294 I trust to bear even this crook in my lot with submission.

1835 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 32 It is positively a great crook in my present lot.

16. by hook or by crook: see hook n.¹ Phrases 1.

B. adj.

a. [Arising probably from dissolution of the combinations crook-back , etc., in which crook- was perhaps originally the noun, or the verb stem; though it may have been shortened < crookt , crooked : compare Compounds 2] = crooked adj.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > [adjective]

corruptc1386

racked1546

detorted?1550

wrested1551

writhen1551

writhed1562

forced1583

tortured1603

strained1609

distorted1641

violented1641

crook1647

extorted1652

refracted1655

madly wrested1656

wry1663

corrupted1699

non-natural1844

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 48 Weil couth I claw his cruke bak.

1647 H. More Insomn. Philos. xxiv Interpreting right whatever seemed crook.

b. ‘Bent’, stolen. Criminals' slang.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > [adjective] > stolen

stolenc1380

stole1393

thief-stolen1551

bribed1552

lifted1559

embezzled1603

purloined1607

felon1631

rifled1638

furtive1718

stealed1883

crook1900

hot-stuffed1929

liberated1944

nicked1955

ripped1971

1900 Proc. Old Bailey 21 May 462 I brought it from you b—— straight; I did not know it was crook.

2. Australian and New Zealand.

a. Of things: bad, inferior; out of order, unsatisfactory; unpleasant, dreadful.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant

loatha700

unsweetc890

grimlyc893

unquemeOE

un-i-quemeOE

evila1131

sourc1175

illc1220

unhightlyc1275

unwelcomec1325

unblithec1330

unnetc1330

unrekena1350

unagreeablec1374

uncouthc1380

unsavouryc1380

displeasantc1386

unlikinga1398

ungaina1400

crabbedc1400

unlovelyc1400

displeasing1401

eschewc1420

unsoot1420

mislikinga1425

unlikelya1425

unlustya1425

fastidiousc1425

unpleasantc1430

displicable1471

unthankfulc1475

displeasant1481

uneasy1483

unpleasinga1500

unfaring1513

badc1530

malpleasant?1533

noisome1542

thanklessa1547

ungrate1548

untoothsome1548

ungreeable1550

contrary1561

disagreeable1570

offensible1575

offensive1576

naughty1578

delightlessa1586

undelightful1585

unwisheda1586

unpleasurable1587

undelightsomec1595

dislikeful1596

disliking1596

ungrateful1596

unsweet?a1600

distastive1600

impleasing1602

distasting1603

distasteful1607

unsightly1608

undelectable1610

disgustful1611

unrelishing1611

waspisha1616

undeliciousa1618

unwished-for1617

disrelishing1631

unenjoyed1643

unjoyous1645

mirya1652

unwelcomed1651

unpleasivea1656

sweet1656

injucund1657

insuave1657

unpalatable1658

unhandsome1660

undesirable1667

disrelishablea1670

uncouthsome1684

shocking1703

nasty1705

embittering1746

indelectable1751

undelightinga1774

nice and ——1796

unenjoyablea1797

ungenial1796

uncomplacent1805

ungracious1807

bitter1810

rotten1813

uncongenial1813

quarrelsome1825

grimy1833

nice1836

unrelished1863

bloody1867

unbewitching1876

ferocious1877

displeasurable1879

rebarbative1892

charming1893

crook1898

naar1900

peppery1901

negative1902

poisonous1906

off-putting1935

unsympathetic1937

piggy1942

funky1946

umpty1948

pooey1967

minging1970

Scrooge-like1976

sucky1984

stank1991

stanky1991

the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > [adjective] > causing discontent or unsatisfactory

unacceptable1483

discontentive1578

inacceptable1578

discontenting1579

discontentful1604

dissatisfactoryc1610

undigestable1612

ungratifying1695

dissatisfying1709

unsatisfactory1843

crook1898

zilch1958

1898 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Dec. Red Page/2 Krook or kronk is bad.

1915 E. G. Pilling Diary in Anzac Memory (1933) iv. 62 Had a very crook night, sickness, cramp, dysentery.

1917 E. Miller Camps, Tramps & Trenches (1939) ix. 52 The rifle issued to me was a crook one that fired high and left.

1918 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 5 July 250/2 It's crook to stay for years.

1929 W. J. Smyth Girl from Mason Creek xv. 163 ‘Cow of a job,’ he muttered... ‘It's a bit crook for yer.’

1931 V. Palmer Separate Lives 271 It can't be helped now. When things go crook in the beginning [etc.].

1934 A. Russell Tramp-royal in Wild Austral. xvii. 106 I wasn't feeling too well at the time—too much crook water an' not enough decent tucker, I suppose.

1945 J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious iii. 18 A cigarette first thing in the morning before a cup of tea, tastes crook.

1947 ‘A. P. Gaskell’ Big Game 32 Isn't it crook about Keith and Gordon [being killed]?

1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose 64 I never knew it [sc. the weather] to be so crook.

1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 111 You know how the old wagon is crook in water.

b. Dishonest, unscrupulous, ‘crooked’.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > dishonesty > dishonest person > [adjective]

unjustc1400

bribing1530

unhonest1545

subornate1548

sinistrous1600

sinistruous1601

horse-fair1606

under-honest1609

left-handed1615

leer1631

dishonest1752

cross1819

one-eyed1833

crook1911

society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > dishonest

manOE

unjustc1400

bribing1530

unhonest1545

makeshift1592

sinistrous1600

horse-fair1606

under-honest1609

dishonest1611

one-eyed1833

shystering1860

cross1882

crook1911

bent1914

fly-by-night1914

crookish1927

shyster1943

shonky1970

1911 L. Stone Jonah i. xi. 132 Yous don't think any worse o' me 'cause Lil's crook, do yer?

1916 ‘Anzac’ On Anzac Trail 44 Protesting..in lurid language against what they styled ‘a crook trick’.

1929 C. C. Martindale Risen Sun 173 When sport goes crook, what can remain wholesome?

1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Sept. 8/2 They think..that the system is ‘crook’.

1936 F. Sargeson Conversat. with Uncle 18 They said it [sc. pulling a race-horse] was a crook business right through.

1953 J. W. Brimblecombe in J. C. Reid Kiwi Laughs (1961) 178 His mentor had a crook deal put over him.

c. Irritable, bad-tempered, angry; esp. in to go crook (at or on), to become angry (at); to lose one's temper (with); to upbraid, rebuke.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry

wrethec900

wrothc975

abelghec1300

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

to peck moodc1330

gremec1460

to take firea1513

fumec1522

sourdc1540

spitec1560

to set up the heckle1601

fire1604

exasperate1659

to fire up1779

to flash up1822

to get one's dander up1831

to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832

to have (also get) one's monkey up1833

to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837

rile1837

to go off the handle1839

to flare up1840

to set one's back up1845

to run hot1855

to wax up1859

to get one's rag out1862

blow1871

to get (also have) the pricker1871

to turn up rough1872

to get the needle1874

to blaze up1878

to get wet1898

spunk1898

to see red1901

to go crook1911

to get ignorant1913

to hit the ceiling1914

to hit the roof1921

to blow one's top1928

to lose one's rag1928

to lose one's haira1930

to go up in smoke1933

hackle1935

to have, get a cob on1937

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to go hostile1941

to go sparec1942

to do one's bun1944

to lose one's wool1944

to blow one's stack1947

to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950

rear1953

to get on ignorant1956

to go through the roof1958

to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964

to lose ita1969

to blow a gasket1975

to throw a wobbler1985

1911 L. Stone Jonah ii. iv. 190 Yer niver 'ad no cause ter go crook on me, but I ain't complainin'.

1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 78 An' there I'm standin' like a gawky lout..An' wonders wot 'e's goin' crook about.

1933 ‘P. Cadey’ Broken Pattern xviii. 197 If Phœbe's gone crook at you..she's had some good reason for it.

1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder vii. 70 See him when he goes crook!.. His eyes fairly flashed.

1946 P. Freedman in Coast to Coast 1945 136 Her ma's always going crook because I break the plaster.

1959 Listener 15 Jan. 115/2 I cut off his boot to stop the foot swelling. I remember he went crook on me: he said they were new, and I'd darn well have to buy him a new pair.

1964 P. White Burnt Ones 295 When his mum went crook, and swore, he was too aware of teeth, the rotting brown of nastiness.

d. Ailing, out of sorts; injured, disabled.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > disordered or out of sorts

out of estatec1400

disordainedc1430

out of order1530

mistempered?1541

untemperate1541

so-soa1592

indisposed1598

discomposed1603

out of sorts1621

disorderly1655

queerish1684

out of one's gears1699

disordered1708

uneasy1725

seedy1729

queer1749

scaly1803

quisby1807

under the weather1827

all nohow1852

toneless1854

nohowish1867

chippy1868

fishy1868

off-colour1876

dicky1883

on-and-offish1888

cheap1891

crook1916

lousy1933

1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 88 I sneaks to bed, an' feels dead crook.

1916 Oil Sheet Dec. 7 Now I've just been vaccinated, and am feeling pretty ‘crook’.

1934 A. Russell Tramp-royal in Wild Austral. xxvii. 178 An' when Dick says he's crook, he's crook. He's out there alone, you know.

1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder viii. 94 Letting him out just because he kidded he felt crook.

1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder x. 116 ‘He was looking horribly crook.’ ‘Ill?’ asked Alleyn cautiously. ‘Too right, sir.’

1938 ‘R. Hyde’ Nor Years Condemn 208 A crook knee and arm.

1952 N. Donnan in Coast to Coast 1951–2 141 I got a crook hip, I can't do heavy work now.

1956 P. White Tree of Man 55 ‘She's crook. It looks like the milk fever,’ he said.

1960 B. Crump Good Keen Man 45 It saves you from getting the crook guts, boy.

1960 B. Crump Good Keen Man 49 He said he wasn't crook or anything.

1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 28 If I don't go out at least five nights a week the cook thinks I'm crook and gets all worried.

Compounds

C1.

crook-like adj.

ΚΠ

1888 F. G. Lee in Archaeologia 51 356 A bishop or abbot holding a crook-like pastoral staff.

crook-saddle n. a saddle with crooks for carrying loads (cf. A. 9).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > saddle > types of saddle

mail-saddle1360

trotter-saddle1381

panel1393

loadsaddle1397

packsaddle1398

limber-saddle1480

pillion1480

side-saddle1493

steel saddle1503

pilgate1511

mail pillowc1532

stock-saddle1537

pad1556

sunk1568

trunk-saddle1569

soda1586

mail pillion1586

running saddle1596

Scotch saddle1596

postilion saddle1621

pad-saddle1622

portmanteau-saddle1681

watering saddle1681

cart-saddle1692

demi-pique1695

crook-saddle1700

saddle pad1750

recado1825

aparejo1844

mountain saddle1849

somerset1851

pilch1863

cowboy saddle1880

sawbuck (pack)saddle1881

western saddle1883

cross-saddle1897

centre-fire1921

McClellan1940

poley1957

1700 Acc. St. Sebastian's in Harl. Misc. I. 413 Their iron bars are brought to the town on horses or mules, on crook-saddles.

1797 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. XIX. 248 [Stornoway] Horse-loads are..carried in small creels, one on each side of the horse, and fixed by a rope to the crook-saddle.

C2. Parasynthetic combinations, as crook-billed, crook-fingered, crook-kneed, crook-legged, crook-lipped, crook-nosed, crook-shouldered, crook-sided, crook-sterned, crook-toothed adjs. See also crook-back n., crook-backed adj., crook-neck n., crook-necked adj.Crooked- was used in the same way from Wyclif onwards.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [adjective] > of shoulders

crooked-shoulderedc1515

crump-shouldered1542

out-shouldered1579

crook-shouldered1580

round-shouldered1586

crumped-shouldered1603

round1702

hump-shouldereda1704

stoop-shouldered1748

huck-shouldered1847

the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [adjective] > of legs > having

leglessc1390

bow-legged1552

crook-legged1580

shackle-hammed1592

baker-kneed1611

baker-legged1611

buckle-hammed1629

out-shinned1682

bandy-legged1688

crooked-legged1691

shackled-ham'd1733

badger-legged1738

tailor-legged1768

knock-kneed1774

scissor-legged1880

1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Bossu, downe backed, crooke shouldered.

1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Cancajoso Crooklegged.

1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades ii. 684 The crooke-stern'd [c1611 crookt-stern'd] shippes.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iv. i. 121 My hounds are..Crooke kneed, and deawlapt, like Thessalian Buls.

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 171 Crook-tooth'd Lampreyes.

1684 tr. T. Bonet Guide Pract. Physician ix. 334 Oftentimes Children about two years old, when they begin to go, are crook-legged.

1775 S. Crisp Let. in F. Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 36 Reduc'd to a level with crook-finger'd Jack!

C3.

crookbilled plover n. the wry-bill of New Zealand, Anarhynchus frontalis.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

crookv.¹

Brit.

/krʊk/, U.S.

/krʊk/

Forms: Middle English–1500s croke, Middle English– crook(e, (1500s croock).

Etymology: < crook n.

a. transitive. To bend into an angular or curved form; to distort from a straight line; to curve.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > misshapenness > put out of shape [verb (transitive)] > make crooked or bent

crookc1175

bend1393

crooken1552

the world > space > shape > curvature > curve or bend [verb (transitive)]

beyc888

bowa1300

incrooka1340

inbowa1382

crook1382

plya1393

inflectc1425

courbe1430

wryc1450

cralla1475

crumbc1490

bought1521

compass1542

incurvate1578

ploy1578

incurve1610

curve1615

circumflex1649

wheel1656

curb1662

crumpa1821

curvaturec1933

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 61 Gif he binimeð us ure sihte..oðer us crokeð on fote oðer on honde.

1382 J. Wyclif Psalms lxviii. 24 The rig of hem euermor crooke thou in.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xix. 1156 Whanne he [sc. the camel] fongeþ charges vpon him þanne he bendeþ and crokeþ þe knees.

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 59 And crooke the pregnant hindges of the knee.

1651 ‘A. B.’ tr. L. Lessius Sir Walter Rawleigh's Ghost 21 The star of Venus..crooking it self into hornes, as the moon doth.

1862 M. T. Morrall Hist. Needle-making 23 Hardening needles in oil instead of water, as the oil did not crook them so much.

1875 R. D. Blackmore Alice Lorraine III. v. 69 The air was so full of rheumatism that no man could crook his arm to write a sermon.

†b. To curl (hair). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > beautify (the hair) [verb (transitive)] > curl

crispc1340

crook1340

pincha1398

curl1447

frouncea1529

creis1553

frizzle1565

thrum1598

becurl1614

calamistrate1628

frizz1660

fruz1702

crimp1708

buckle1721

befriz1772

crape1774

crêpe1818

crinkle1871

permanently wave1901

marcel1906

water-wave1912

permanent wave1921

permanent1924

perm1928

tong1932

scrunch1983

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 177 Þe men þet doþ zuo grat payne ham to kembe..and ine hare here wel to croki.

c. to crook one's mou' (Scottish): to distort the mouth in expression of displeasure or ill temper.

ΚΠ

1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 86 O kend my minny I were wi' you Illfardly wad she crook her mou.

1803 J. Mayne Glasgow 31 (Jam.) They, scornfu', toss their head ajee, And crook their mou'.

d. to crook one's elbow or little finger: to drink alcoholic liquor (esp. with implication of excess). slang.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)]

to drink deepa1300

bousec1300

bibc1400

to drink drunk1474

quaff1520

to set cock on the hoopa1535

boll1535

quass1549

tipple1560

swillc1563

carouse1567

guzzle1579

fuddle1588

overdrink1603

to drink the three outs1622

to bouse it1623

sota1639

drifflec1645

to drink like a fisha1653

tope1668

soak1687

to play at swig1688

to soak one's clay (or face)1704

impote1721

rosin1730

dram1740

booze1768

to suck (also sup) the monkey1785

swattle1785

lush1811

to lift up the little finger1812

to lift one's (or the) elbow1823

to crook one's elbow or little finger1825

jollify1830

to bowse up the jib1836

swizzle1847

peg1874

to hit the booze, bottle, jug, pot1889

to tank up1902

sozzle1937

to belt the bottle1941

indulge1953

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. (at cited word) To Crook the elbow; as, She crooks her elbow, a phrase used of a woman who uses too much freedom with the bottle, q. bending her elbow in reaching the drink to her mouth.

1836 Public Ledger (Philadelphia) 2 Aug. William Martin was fined for, as he quaintly expressed it, crooking his little finger too often.

1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) (at cited word) To crook one's elbow or one's little finger, is to tipple.

1875 W. Besant & J. Rice With Harp & Crown xix The secretary..might have done great things in literature but for his unfortunate crook of the elbow. As he only crooks it at night, it does not matter to the hospital.

1924 J. Masefield Sard Harker iii. 251 Sir James has sacked his old man for crooking his little finger: going on the jag, in other words.

†2. figurative. To bend or turn out of the straight course, or from the direct meaning or intention; to pervert, ‘twist’. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > pervert or distort [verb (transitive)]

crooka1340

deprave1382

pervertc1390

strainc1449

drawc1450

miswrest?a1475

bewrya1522

wry?1521

to make a Welshman's hose ofa1529

writhea1533

wrest1533

invert1534

wring?1541

depravate1548

rack1548

violent1549

wrench1549

train1551

wreathe1556

throw1558

detorta1575

shuffle1589

wriggle1593

distortc1595

to put, set, place, etc. on the rack1599

twine1600

wire-draw1610

monstrify1617

screw1628

corrupt1630

gloss1638

torture1648

force1662

vex1678

refract1700

warp1717

to put a force upon1729

twist1821

ply1988

society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)] > pervert or deprave

bicharrea1100

crooka1340

subvertc1384

pervertc1425

traverse1438

overthwartc1450

perversec1475

deprave1482

crooken1552

preposterate1566

depravate1847

a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lvi. 8 Þai crokid my saule: that is, thai thoght to draghe it fra the luf of god in til the erth.

1382 J. Wyclif Psalms lvi. 7 Thei myche crookeden [L. incurvaverunt] my soule.

1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 144 That she may..Ne speke o word, ne ones loke, But he ne wil it wende and croke, And torne after his own entent.

1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 21^v There is no one thinge y^t crokes youth more then suche vnlefull games.

1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 100 Hee crooketh them to his owne ends.

1646 J. Gregory Notes & Observ. xviii. 82 The more part..crooke the Prophesie to the Patriarch Abraham.

3. intransitive. To have or take a crooked form or direction; to be or become crooked; to bend, curve.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > misshapenness > lose shape or become misshapen [verb (intransitive)] > become crooked or bent

crooka1300

bend1398

crooken1603

the world > space > shape > curvature > be or become curved or bent [verb (intransitive)]

beyc888

bowOE

fold13..

crumpc1325

windc1374

courbe1377

curb1377

plyc1395

bend1398

ploy?1473

bowl1513

bought1521

tirve1567

crookle1577

crook1579

compass1588

round1613

incurvate1647

circumflex1661

arcuate1678

to round off1678

sweep1725

curve1748

curvaturea1811

a1300 Song of Yesterday 98 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 135 Me meruayles..Þat god let mony mon croke and elde.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vi. i. 187 In olde aege the body bendyth and crokyth.

?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Ciii Soone croketh the same tre, that good cramoke wylbe.

1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin viii. 458 A riuer both large & deepe..goeth crooking on the left hande.

1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 106 Their hornes crook backwards to their shoulders.

1876 C. D. Warner Winter on Nile 240 Fingers that crook easily.

†4. intransitive. To bend the body in sign of reverence or humility; to bow. Obsolete or archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > bow, kneel, or curtsey

loutc825

abowOE

bowa1000

kneel?a1000

kneec1000

crookc1320

to bow the knee1382

inclinec1390

crouchc1394

croukc1394

coucha1500

plya1500

to make or do courtesy1508

beck1535

to make a (long, low, etc.) leg1548

curtsya1556

dopc1557

binge1562

jouk1567

beckon1578

benda1586

humblea1592

vaila1593

to scrape a leg1602

congee1606

to give the stoop1623

leg1628

scrape1645

to drop a curtsy1694

salaam1698

boba1794

dip1818

to make (also perform) a cheese1834

c1320 tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 149 He stode krokyng [v.r. croked] on knees knelyng Afore hys cretures fete syttyng.

1645 S. Rutherford Tryal & Trivmph of Faith (1845) 312 That the Sinner may halt and crook.

1841 R. W. Emerson Prudence in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 241 Shuffle they will, and crow, crook, and hide.

†5. intransitive. To turn or bend aside out of the straight course (literal and figurative). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > erring > [verb (intransitive)]

misfareeOE

failc1290

stumblec1325

errc1374

crookc1380

miscarryc1390

swervea1400

delire?a1475

pervertc1475

misguide1480

prevaricate1582

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement [verb (intransitive)] > diverge from course

bowa1000

swervec1330

wrya1350

crookc1380

to turn asidea1382

depart1393

decline14..

wryc1400

divert1430

desvoy1481

wave1548

digress1552

prevaricate1582

yaw1584

to turn off1605

to come off1626

deviate1635

sag1639

to flinch out1642

deflect1646

de-err1657

break1678

verge1693

sheera1704

to break off1725

lean1894

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > act wrongly or immorally [verb (intransitive)] > err or go wrong or astray

misfareeOE

wanderc897

dwelec900

miswendOE

misfereOE

misnimc1225

failc1290

to go willa1300

misgoc1300

misstepc1300

errc1315

strayc1325

folly1357

wryc1369

crookc1380

miscarryc1390

ravec1390

astray1393

forloinc1400

delire?a1475

to go wrong?1507

to tread the shoe awrya1542

swerve1576

prevaricate1582

tread awrya1625

c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 230 He schal not croke in-to þe riȝtte side ne in-to þe left side.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 87/4 Goyng right without crokyng.

1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 37^v It [sc. the snow] flewe not streight, but sometyme it crooked thys waye sometyme that waye.

1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 212 He must not runne directly forward, but wind too and fro, crooking like an indenture.

6. transitive. In polo, to catch hold of (an opponent's stick) with one's own stick, so as to interfere with his play.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > equestrian sports except racing > polo > play polo [verb (transitive)] > actions

crook1890

to hit in1906

ride-off1909

1890 G. J. Younghusband Polo in India ii. 21 No player shall crook his adversary's stick unless he is on the same side of the pony as the ball, or immediately behind.

1898 T. B. Drybrough Polo xi. 268 ‘Crooking’ means ‘interposing’ a stick between the ball and an adversary's stick..so as to ‘hook’ and arrest it.

1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 820/2 They have no off side [in American polo], and it is not permitted to crook the stick of an adversary.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	crook
释义	crookn.adj. Brit. /krʊk/, U.S. /krʊk/ Forms: Middle English croc, Middle English–1500s croke, Middle English Scottish and northern cruk, Middle English–1500s crok, kroke, Middle English–1500s cruke, Middle English–1700s crooke, 1500s–1800s Scottish cruik, Middle English– crook. Origin: Apparently a borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymon: Norse krókr. Etymology: Middle English crōk, crōc, apparently < Old Norse krókr (Swedish krok, Danish krog) crook, hook, barb, trident; unknown elsewhere in Germanic, but apparently belonging to the same ablaut series (krak-, krôk), as Old High German chracho, chracco hook; compare Old Norse kraki boat-hook. The parallelism of form and meaning with croche n.¹, crose n. is notable in sense 2. Relationship between the ablaut series krak-, krôk, and that to which crutch belongs, cannot at present be asserted. A. n. 1. An instrument, weapon, or tool of hooked form; a hook. spec. †(a) a reaping-hook, sickle; (b) a hook for grappling or catching; (c) a hook or bent iron on which anything is hung; e.g. one of the iron hooks on which a gate hangs: esp. in ‘crooks and bands’ (see band n.¹ 3); a hook in a chimney for hanging a pot or kettle on, a pot-hook. Hence as black as the crook (Scottish). ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > torture > instrument or place of torture > [noun] > hook awelOE crookc1290 ungle1483 trip-hook1846 society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > types of tools generally > [noun] > hooked awelOE crookc1290 gaffa1300 kroket1426 crotchetc1430 cromec1440 buttonhook1788 claw1815 box hook1852 hook1869 window pole1888 the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > harvesting equipment > [noun] > reaping tools > sickle hooka700 sicklea1000 crookc1290 cycle1387 reap hook1388 reaping hook1578 knife-hooka1599 crotchet1833 the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that by which something is suspended > hook hookc900 crookc1290 rackhook1457 tenter1592 tenterhook1888 cup hook1895 the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > gate > hinges, hooks, etc. crookc1290 resta1522 vardle1525 thimble1550 fimble1597 vartiwell1763 c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 99/241 And hire bresten fram hire bodi with Irene crokes rende. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Cleopatra. 640 In gooth the grapenel so ful of crokis. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18104 He..brast þe brasen yates sa strang, And stelen croc þat þai wit hang. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 40 Quen corne is coruen with crokez kene. c1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 1161 Rakes, crookes, adses, and bycornes. 1453 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 160 Pro nayles et crokes emptis pro magnis portis. 1522 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 153 j blake worsted kirtle, and the gretter golde crokes. 1587 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 26 For fowre bands & crookes, vj d. 1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. 177 As ane dur is tourned on the cruuks (quhilk in latin ar called cardines). 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xxiv. 152 Hang them [pigs when killed]..to the crookes set vp in some vaulted roofe. a1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1785) 167 Till in a birn beneath the crook They're singit wi' a scowder. 1826 W. Scott Jrnl. 17 Jan. (1939) 70 With a visage as black as the crook. 1848 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 9 ii. 420 The ends of each rafter are turned in the form of a gate-crook. 1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma lvi. 256 From whose lofty ceiling hung the crooks, from whence used to dangle the..legs of..mutton. †2. A crooked claw, as of a beast or fiend; passing into sense ‘clutch’. (Cf. clutch n.¹ 1 – 3.)In reference to fiends the sense is often doubtful; some hooked or barbed instrument may have been meant. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > [noun] > possession and control > possession and power or clutches gripOE handgripOE crook?c1225 fist1297 fangera1300 holtc1375 in one's clawsc1386 clutcha1529 handgripe1534 clamps1548 clums1567 clamsa1569 embracement1599 pounce1614 embracea1627 the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > paw or foot > foot with claws > talon or claw clawa700 clivera1000 naillOE cleafre?c1225 cleche?c1225 crook?c1225 clutchc1230 cleec1250 pawc1330 cromea1400 clawrec1400 pouncea1475 talons?a1475 ungle1481 ongle1484 gripe1578 sere1606 unce1609 pouncer1704 unguisc1790 griff1820 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 81 Þe cat of helle..droch ut al..wið crokede crokes. a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 77 Uorte worpen up on ou his crokes [a1250 Titus hore clokes; ?c1225 Cleo. hise cleches]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 25060 Þas oþer þat his lagh forsok, He kest þam in þat feindes croke. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 23252 Strang paine es it on þam to loke, And namli laght vntil þair crok. a1400 Cov. Myst. 209 Out of thi [Satan's]..cruel crook By Godys grace man xal be redempt. 14.. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 98 The deville caught him in his croke. †3. A barbed spear. (So in ONorse.) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > spear or lance > [noun] > barbed spear crooka1500 partisan1542 pheona1618 harpoon1625 angon1683 jag-spear1864 a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1607 Sith he pullith at his croke, So fast in to the flesh it toke, That oute myȝt he gete it nought. a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1577 He bare on his nek a croke..It was twelfe ffote and more. 4. a. A shepherd's staff, having one end curved or hooked, for catching the hinder leg of a sheep. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > [noun] > crook sheep-crookc1420 crookc1430 staffc1475 hook?1523 sheep-hook?1523 c1430 J. Lydgate Chorle & Bird xlviii. in Ashm. 223 A Chepys Croke to the ys better than a Launce. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 104 Croke, or scheype hoke, pedum. 1656 A. Cowley Davideis i. 4 in Poems I Sing the Man who Judahs Scepter bore In that right hand which held the Crook before. 1720 J. Gay Dione iii. ii, in Poems II. 476 Leaning on her crook, Stood the sad nymph. 1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leics. 240 Where the sickle holds the place of the shepherd's crook. b. The pastoral staff of a bishop, abbot or abbess, shaped like a shepherd's staff; a crosier. ΘΚΠ society > faith > artefacts > implement (general) > staff > [noun] > bishop's staffa1122 bat?c1225 bagle1330 crosec1330 potent1348 crookc1386 croche14.. cley-staffc1440 baculc1449 cross-staffa1464 pastoral staff?a1475 crosier's staff1488 crosier1500 crose-staff1549 pastoral1658 beagle-rod1664 tau staff1843 tau1855 tau crosier1900 c1386 G. Chaucer Friar's Tale 19 (Tyrwh.) Er the bishop hent hem with his crook [Harl. & 6-text hook]. c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iii. xxiv. 149 This crook and this S shewen wel that j am an abbesse. 1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend i. 34 The Priests came flocking in..With all their crosiers and their crooks. 5. a. Any hooked or incurved appendage, e.g. a tendril of a plant, one of the hooks on the fruit of the burdock, etc.; the curved or hooked part of anything, e.g. of a walking-stick; the ‘crosier’ of a fern. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > ferns > [noun] > parts of crooka1398 brake-root1626 indusium1807 membranula1821 sorus1832 foot1862 crosier1874 fruit-dot1880 fiddle-head1882 saddle1882 fern-cup1888 stomium1905 annulus- the world > space > shape > curvature > [noun] > a curve > curved part crooka1398 bowing1519 bending?1523 roundinga1582 bent1587 bendc1600 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. clxxvii. 1068 Þilke boundes [read bondes] by þe whiche it takeþ and byclippeþ tres and stakes ben ycleped caprioli... Þise ben crokes of þe vynes. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. viii. 15 Upon the braunches there groweth small bullets..garnisshed full of little crookes or hookes. 1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 2 The..thorns, or crooks, or hairs of leaves. 1850 Florist Mar. 87 The young fronds of the..Ferns uncurling their crooks. †b. A curl or roll of hair formerly worn. Obsolete. (Cf. crocket n.¹ 1.) ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > curled or frizzed style > a curl crocket1303 crookc1308 crotchet1589 lock1601 bergera1685 beau-catcher1818 sausage curl1828 spit-curl1831 crimp1855 kiss-curl1856 follow-me-lads1862 Alexandra curl1863 bob-curl1867 pin-curl1873 Montague1881 quiff1890 kiss-me-quick1893 c1308 Sat. People Kildare x, in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 154 Þoȝ ȝur crune be ischave, fair beþ ȝur crokes [rhyme bokes]. c1325 Poem Times Edw. II in Pol. Songs (Camden) 327 A myrour and a koeverchef to binde wid his crok [rhyme bitok]. ?a1400 Morte Arth. 3352 Cho kembede myne heuede That the krispane kroke to my crownne raughte. 1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Crok, the turning up of the hair into curls.] c. A crooked or incurved piece of timber. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood in specific form > [noun] > naturally or artificially bent wood knee-timber1612 knee1679 cramble1788 crook1802 bent-wood1862 1802 Naval Chron. 8 373 The..futtocks are all got from natural grown crooks. 1806 Hull Advertiser 11 Jan. 2/2 Oak Timber, consisting of Knees and Crooks, peculiarly well adapted for Ship Building. d. Bell-founding. (See quots.) ΚΠ 1857 W. C. Lukis Acct. Church Bells 21 The crook is a kind of compass formed of wood, and is used for making the moulds. 1872 H. T. Ellacombe Church Bells Devon i. 7 The core is first..moulded as described by the action of the crook. 6. A small space, or piece of ground, of a crooked shape; an odd corner, nook. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > [noun] > wedge-shaped piece of land crook1417 gore1523 pike1523 goring1886 the world > space > shape > angularity > [noun] > angular object > angular extremity or fragment cornera1330 nookc1380 crook1417 angle1582 1417 Searchers Verdicts in Surtees Misc. (1890) 11 A cruke of Robert Feriby grund. c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. lvi. 34 In sum anglet or in sum..crook or cornere. 1717 in Quarter Sessions Rec. (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1890) VIII. Other small parts [of a farm] called crookes and crinkles. 1839 W. Irving Chron. Wolfert's Roost (1855) 50 It was full of nooks and crooks, and chambers of all sorts and sizes. †7. plural. Brackets (in printing), parentheses. Obsolete. (Cf. crotchet n.¹ 8.) ΘΚΠ society > communication > printing > printed matter > printed character(s) > [noun] > square bracket crooks1641 column1658 crotchet1676 1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 16 Though it be cunningly interpolisht..with crooks & emendations. 1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VI. xxxi. 123 Amongst my father's papers, with here and there an insertion of his own, betwixt two crooks, thus [ ]. 8. Musical Instr. a. An accessory piece of curved tubing to be added to a metal wind instrument, as a horn or cornet, to lower the pitch, so as to adapt it to the key of the piece of music in which it is to be used. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > brass instruments > [noun] > parts of > other parts crook1842 shank1885 tuning-slide1885 mouth pipe1973 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xviii The trumpeter..pulling out one crook from another. 1880 G. Grove Dict. Music I. 750 The difference of pitch [in the Horn] being provided by the various crooks. b. The crooked metal tube connecting the body with the reed of a bassoon. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > woodwind instruments > [noun] > reed instrument > bassoon > part of crook1880 1880 G. Grove Dict. Music I. 150 [The bassoon] consists of five pieces..the crook, wing, butt, long joints, and bell. 9. A support or frame of wood, bent in a particular way, formerly slung in pairs panier-wise across the saddle of a pack-horse for carrying loads. (Somerset and Devon.) ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > [noun] > framework for attaching packs to saddle crook1657 crub1890 1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 89 Small pack-saddles, and crookes..laying upon each Crook a faggot. c1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 225 Carryages on horses backes..with sort of crookes of wood like yokes either side..in which they stow y^e corne and so tie it with cords. 1791 J. Collinson Hist. & Antiq. Somerset II. 34 The crops are..carried in with crooks on horses. 1850 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 11 ii. 739 The corn is often harvested in crooks on horses' backs. 1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (at cited word) It used to be as common to say ‘I'll send a horse and crooks’ as it is now to say ‘horse and cart’. Both kinds are now very rarely seen. 10. a. The act of crooking; esp. a bending of the knee or of the body in sign of reverence (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > curvature > [noun] > action or process crookc1330 bowinga1398 bending1398 embowing1430 inflection1531 bent1567 curving1594 flexure1600 curbing1601 crooking1607 incurvation1608 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > bowing, kneeling, or curtseying > a bow or curtsey crookc1330 beckc1375 obediencec1390 obeisancea1393 reverencec1400 inclinationa1425 courtesy1508 curtsy1513 honour1531 leg1548 duck1554 beisance1556 jouk1567 congee1577 crouch1597 humblesso1599 inclinabo1607 salaam1613 dop1616 scrape1628 bowa1656 visit-leg1673 couchee1691 dip1792 bob1825 c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1816 Ffor-setten byfore, and eke byhynde, Wyþ crokes ilkon oþer gan bynde. 1605 B. Jonson Sejanus i. i. 204 He is the now Court-God; And well applied With sacrifice of Knees, of Crookes, and Cringe. View more context for this quotation 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. iii. 64 A well-aimed crook of the heel or thrust of the loin. b. In polo, an act of crooking an opponent's stick (see crook v.¹ 6). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > equestrian sports except racing > polo > [noun] > actions knock-out1894 safety1896 hit-in1930 crook1935 1935 Times 18 June 5/5 Captain Ansell..scored with a 60 yards penalty given for a foul crook. 11. A bending or curve, a convolution, e.g. of a river, path, the intestines, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [noun] > straight or constant direction > deviation from > a turn crookingc1380 turnc1390 bightc1400 crook1486 turnagain1545 creek1596 creeking1610 return1610 sinuositya1774 bend1879 1486 Bk. St. Alban's E vij b Of the nomblis..theys oder crokes and Roundulis bene. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos ii. (R.) Through lanes and crokes and darknes most we past. 1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Biij Sea eylis rare, that be Myle longs, in crawling cruikis of sixtie pace. 1623 C. Butler Feminine Monarchie (rev. ed.) v. sig. M2^v Let it downe by a cord tied to some crooke of the bough. 1686 Bp. G. Burnet Some Lett. conc. Switzerland v. 262 The Rhine maketh a crook before it. 1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 594/1 Old homely ways, whose crooks..she knew by heart. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Underwoods i. xiv. 29 The crooks of Tweed. †12. figurative. A crooked piece of conduct; a trick, artifice, wile; deceit, guile, trickery. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception wrenchc888 swikec893 braida1000 craftOE wile1154 crookc1175 trokingc1175 guile?c1225 hocket1276 blink1303 errorc1320 guileryc1330 sleightc1340 knackc1369 deceitc1380 japec1380 gaudc1386 syllogism1387 mazec1390 mowa1393 train?a1400 trantc1400 abusionc1405 creekc1405 trickc1412 trayc1430 lirtc1440 quaint?a1450 touch1481 pawka1522 false point?1528 practice1533 crink1534 flim-flamc1538 bobc1540 fetcha1547 abuse1551 block1553 wrinklec1555 far-fetch?a1562 blirre1570 slampant1577 ruse1581 forgery1582 crank1588 plait1589 crossbite1591 cozenage1592 lock1598 quiblin1605 foist1607 junt1608 firk1611 overreach?1615 fob1622 ludification1623 knick-knacka1625 flam1632 dodge1638 gimcrack1639 fourbe1654 juggle1664 strategy1672 jilt1683 disingenuity1691 fun1699 jugglementa1708 spring1753 shavie1767 rig?1775 deception1794 Yorkshire bite1795 fakement1811 fake1829 practical1833 deceptivity1843 tread-behind1844 fly1861 schlenter1864 Sinonism1864 racket1869 have1885 ficelle1890 wheeze1903 fast one1912 roughie1914 spun-yarn trick1916 fastie1931 phoney baloney1933 fake-out1955 okey-doke1964 mind-fuck1971 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11635 Þa wære he þurrh þe deofless croc. I gluterrnesses fallenn. a1225 Leg. Kath. 125 Wið alle hise crefti crokes. 1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 161 He soughte nought the worldes croke [rhyme boke] For veine honour ne for richesse. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 740 Þe nedder..þat mast kan bath on crok and craft. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 192 With sich wylys and crokys. a1556 T. Cranmer Answer to Bp. Gardiner (T.) For all your bragges, hookes, and crookes, you have such a fall. 1594 Willobie his Auisa xxxvii. f. 35 The wise will shunne such craftie crookes. 13. One whose conduct is crooked; a dishonest person, swindler, sharper. Originally U.S. colloquial. Now esp. a professional criminal or an associate of criminals. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > criminality > criminal person > [noun] felon1297 wandelard1338 malefactora1438 malfetoura1450 stigmatic1597 stigmatist1607 criminal1610 mug1865 crook1879 heavy man1926 the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > crookedness > [noun] > person crook1879 society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker waryOE wandelard1338 breakerc1384 malefactora1438 law-breakerc1440 misgovernora1449 malfetoura1450 wrongdoer1501 contravener1567 criminal1610 contravenary1614 mug1865 crook1879 outlaw1880 punter1891 kink1914 heavy man1926 crim1927 antisocial1945 villain1960 banduluc1977 society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [noun] > dishonesty > dishonest person shondc725 makeshift1554 roundabout1605 fraudsman1613 trickster1711 bug1785 fly-by-night1796 twister1834 rigger1859 shyster1877 crook1879 heel1914 wide boy1937 1879 Chicago Tribune 6 Feb. 5/2 The Times still continues its attacks upon the Government officials in the interest of the Pekin and Peoria crooks. 1882 Sydney Slang Dict. 3/1 Crook, a thief and burglar. One who gets his living on the best. 1886 American Local Newspr. The photographs of several English cracksmen along with one of a New York crook. 1891 H. Campbell Darkness & Daylight 470 Gamblers, pickpockets and other ‘crooks’ abound. 1891 Sun (N.Y.) 19 June 6/4 (Funk) The slang word ‘crook’ now bids fair to be recognized in the statutes and consequently to be adopted as good English in the courts of law. A bill regulating admissions to the prison at Marquette excludes, among other classes of individuals specified, those known to be ‘crooks’ in police parlance. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 17 July 2/1 A crook what kep a little crib Dad went to when things was too lively. 1903 Daily Chron. 3 Nov. 5/4 All the saloon-keepers, and gamblers, and crooks, and confidence men, in fact all the predatory elements of society are..working for a Tammany victory. 1909 Daily Chron. 19 June 3/2 The people here..are clever and rather interesting scamps. Were they on a slightly lower social level they would be called ‘crooks’. 1949 ‘J. Tey’ Brat Farrar x. 81 A very..intelligent crook. On the highest level of crookery. 1953 ‘M. Innes’ Christmas at Candleshoe xiii. 150 ‘The fact is that a gang of crooks——’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ Miss Candleshoe is wholly at sea. ‘The fact is that a band of robbers is prowling about outside this house now.’ 14. dialect. Categories » a. ‘The crick in the neck; a painful stiffness, the effect of cold’. Craven Gloss. 1828. Categories » b. ‘A disease of sheep, whereby their heads are drawn on one side.’ Craven Gloss. 1828. 15. Phrases. a. †on crook, a-crook: crookedly, in a crooked course. Obsolete. on the crook: dishonestly. slang. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adverb] > off the direct line > bendingly or windingly a-crooka1387 acrooka1387 crooked1545 windingly1576 bendingly1658 serpentinely1762 tortuously1839 meanderingly1865 snakily1870 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > wrongly or in error [phrase] > astray on crooka1387 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > [adverb] > in a wrong way, amiss on missc1225 overthwarta1382 a-crookc1500 awrya1513 wide?1529 astray1535 across1559 bias1600 outa1641 beside the bridge1652 on the wrong side of the post1728 abroad1806 off1843 way off1882 off beam1941 up the boohai?1946 society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [phrase] > dishonestly by stealth1390 on the cross1802 on the crook1879 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 53 Humber..renneþ first a crook out of þe south side of York. c1425 Hampole's Psalter Metr. Pref. 38 Many out of bales browȝt, þ^t in lywyng went on croke. c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 1887 How long shalt thow looke, Daryng as a dastard, on yon portrayture?..thy wytte stant a crooke. a1525 Court of Love 378 And truly, ellis the mater is a-croke. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iv. iii. sig. F.iij^v This gear goth acrook. 1879 Macmillan's Mag. 503 (Farmer) Which he had bought on the crook. 1881 C. Rossetti Pageant & Other Poems 177 Our spirits immersed In wilfulness, our steps run all acrook. b. crook in one's lot: something untoward or distressing in one's experience: an affliction, trial. Scottish. ΚΠ a1732 T. Boston (title) The Crook in the Lot; or the Wisdom and Sovereignty of God displayed in the afflictions of men. a1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1767) 14 The crook in the lot is the special trial appointed for every one. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 294 I trust to bear even this crook in my lot with submission. 1835 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 32 It is positively a great crook in my present lot. 16. by hook or by crook: see hook n.¹ Phrases 1. B. adj. 1. a. [Arising probably from dissolution of the combinations crook-back , etc., in which crook- was perhaps originally the noun, or the verb stem; though it may have been shortened < crookt , crooked : compare Compounds 2] = crooked adj. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > [adjective] corruptc1386 racked1546 detorted?1550 wrested1551 writhen1551 writhed1562 forced1583 tortured1603 strained1609 distorted1641 violented1641 crook1647 extorted1652 refracted1655 madly wrested1656 wry1663 corrupted1699 non-natural1844 ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 48 Weil couth I claw his cruke bak. 1647 H. More Insomn. Philos. xxiv Interpreting right whatever seemed crook. b. ‘Bent’, stolen. Criminals' slang. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > [adjective] > stolen stolenc1380 stole1393 thief-stolen1551 bribed1552 lifted1559 embezzled1603 purloined1607 felon1631 rifled1638 furtive1718 stealed1883 crook1900 hot-stuffed1929 liberated1944 nicked1955 ripped1971 1900 Proc. Old Bailey 21 May 462 I brought it from you b—— straight; I did not know it was crook. 2. Australian and New Zealand. a. Of things: bad, inferior; out of order, unsatisfactory; unpleasant, dreadful. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant loatha700 unsweetc890 grimlyc893 unquemeOE un-i-quemeOE evila1131 sourc1175 illc1220 unhightlyc1275 unwelcomec1325 unblithec1330 unnetc1330 unrekena1350 unagreeablec1374 uncouthc1380 unsavouryc1380 displeasantc1386 unlikinga1398 ungaina1400 crabbedc1400 unlovelyc1400 displeasing1401 eschewc1420 unsoot1420 mislikinga1425 unlikelya1425 unlustya1425 fastidiousc1425 unpleasantc1430 displicable1471 unthankfulc1475 displeasant1481 uneasy1483 unpleasinga1500 unfaring1513 badc1530 malpleasant?1533 noisome1542 thanklessa1547 ungrate1548 untoothsome1548 ungreeable1550 contrary1561 disagreeable1570 offensible1575 offensive1576 naughty1578 delightlessa1586 undelightful1585 unwisheda1586 unpleasurable1587 undelightsomec1595 dislikeful1596 disliking1596 ungrateful1596 unsweet?a1600 distastive1600 impleasing1602 distasting1603 distasteful1607 unsightly1608 undelectable1610 disgustful1611 unrelishing1611 waspisha1616 undeliciousa1618 unwished-for1617 disrelishing1631 unenjoyed1643 unjoyous1645 mirya1652 unwelcomed1651 unpleasivea1656 sweet1656 injucund1657 insuave1657 unpalatable1658 unhandsome1660 undesirable1667 disrelishablea1670 uncouthsome1684 shocking1703 nasty1705 embittering1746 indelectable1751 undelightinga1774 nice and ——1796 unenjoyablea1797 ungenial1796 uncomplacent1805 ungracious1807 bitter1810 rotten1813 uncongenial1813 quarrelsome1825 grimy1833 nice1836 unrelished1863 bloody1867 unbewitching1876 ferocious1877 displeasurable1879 rebarbative1892 charming1893 crook1898 naar1900 peppery1901 negative1902 poisonous1906 off-putting1935 unsympathetic1937 piggy1942 funky1946 umpty1948 pooey1967 minging1970 Scrooge-like1976 sucky1984 stank1991 stanky1991 the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > [adjective] > causing discontent or unsatisfactory unacceptable1483 discontentive1578 inacceptable1578 discontenting1579 discontentful1604 dissatisfactoryc1610 undigestable1612 ungratifying1695 dissatisfying1709 unsatisfactory1843 crook1898 zilch1958 1898 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Dec. Red Page/2 Krook or kronk is bad. 1915 E. G. Pilling Diary in Anzac Memory (1933) iv. 62 Had a very crook night, sickness, cramp, dysentery. 1917 E. Miller Camps, Tramps & Trenches (1939) ix. 52 The rifle issued to me was a crook one that fired high and left. 1918 Chrons. N.Z.E.F. 5 July 250/2 It's crook to stay for years. 1929 W. J. Smyth Girl from Mason Creek xv. 163 ‘Cow of a job,’ he muttered... ‘It's a bit crook for yer.’ 1931 V. Palmer Separate Lives 271 It can't be helped now. When things go crook in the beginning [etc.]. 1934 A. Russell Tramp-royal in Wild Austral. xvii. 106 I wasn't feeling too well at the time—too much crook water an' not enough decent tucker, I suppose. 1945 J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious iii. 18 A cigarette first thing in the morning before a cup of tea, tastes crook. 1947 ‘A. P. Gaskell’ Big Game 32 Isn't it crook about Keith and Gordon [being killed]? 1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose 64 I never knew it [sc. the weather] to be so crook. 1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 111 You know how the old wagon is crook in water. b. Dishonest, unscrupulous, ‘crooked’. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > dishonesty > dishonest person > [adjective] unjustc1400 bribing1530 unhonest1545 subornate1548 sinistrous1600 sinistruous1601 horse-fair1606 under-honest1609 left-handed1615 leer1631 dishonest1752 cross1819 one-eyed1833 crook1911 society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > dishonest manOE unjustc1400 bribing1530 unhonest1545 makeshift1592 sinistrous1600 horse-fair1606 under-honest1609 dishonest1611 one-eyed1833 shystering1860 cross1882 crook1911 bent1914 fly-by-night1914 crookish1927 shyster1943 shonky1970 1911 L. Stone Jonah i. xi. 132 Yous don't think any worse o' me 'cause Lil's crook, do yer? 1916 ‘Anzac’ On Anzac Trail 44 Protesting..in lurid language against what they styled ‘a crook trick’. 1929 C. C. Martindale Risen Sun 173 When sport goes crook, what can remain wholesome? 1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Sept. 8/2 They think..that the system is ‘crook’. 1936 F. Sargeson Conversat. with Uncle 18 They said it [sc. pulling a race-horse] was a crook business right through. 1953 J. W. Brimblecombe in J. C. Reid Kiwi Laughs (1961) 178 His mentor had a crook deal put over him. c. Irritable, bad-tempered, angry; esp. in to go crook (at or on), to become angry (at); to lose one's temper (with); to upbraid, rebuke. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry wrethec900 wrothc975 abelghec1300 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 to peck moodc1330 gremec1460 to take firea1513 fumec1522 sourdc1540 spitec1560 to set up the heckle1601 fire1604 exasperate1659 to fire up1779 to flash up1822 to get one's dander up1831 to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832 to have (also get) one's monkey up1833 to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837 rile1837 to go off the handle1839 to flare up1840 to set one's back up1845 to run hot1855 to wax up1859 to get one's rag out1862 blow1871 to get (also have) the pricker1871 to turn up rough1872 to get the needle1874 to blaze up1878 to get wet1898 spunk1898 to see red1901 to go crook1911 to get ignorant1913 to hit the ceiling1914 to hit the roof1921 to blow one's top1928 to lose one's rag1928 to lose one's haira1930 to go up in smoke1933 hackle1935 to have, get a cob on1937 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to go hostile1941 to go sparec1942 to do one's bun1944 to lose one's wool1944 to blow one's stack1947 to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950 rear1953 to get on ignorant1956 to go through the roof1958 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 to lose ita1969 to blow a gasket1975 to throw a wobbler1985 1911 L. Stone Jonah ii. iv. 190 Yer niver 'ad no cause ter go crook on me, but I ain't complainin'. 1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 78 An' there I'm standin' like a gawky lout..An' wonders wot 'e's goin' crook about. 1933 ‘P. Cadey’ Broken Pattern xviii. 197 If Phœbe's gone crook at you..she's had some good reason for it. 1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder vii. 70 See him when he goes crook!.. His eyes fairly flashed. 1946 P. Freedman in Coast to Coast 1945 136 Her ma's always going crook because I break the plaster. 1959 Listener 15 Jan. 115/2 I cut off his boot to stop the foot swelling. I remember he went crook on me: he said they were new, and I'd darn well have to buy him a new pair. 1964 P. White Burnt Ones 295 When his mum went crook, and swore, he was too aware of teeth, the rotting brown of nastiness. d. Ailing, out of sorts; injured, disabled. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > disordered or out of sorts out of estatec1400 disordainedc1430 out of order1530 mistempered?1541 untemperate1541 so-soa1592 indisposed1598 discomposed1603 out of sorts1621 disorderly1655 queerish1684 out of one's gears1699 disordered1708 uneasy1725 seedy1729 queer1749 scaly1803 quisby1807 under the weather1827 all nohow1852 toneless1854 nohowish1867 chippy1868 fishy1868 off-colour1876 dicky1883 on-and-offish1888 cheap1891 crook1916 lousy1933 1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 88 I sneaks to bed, an' feels dead crook. 1916 Oil Sheet Dec. 7 Now I've just been vaccinated, and am feeling pretty ‘crook’. 1934 A. Russell Tramp-royal in Wild Austral. xxvii. 178 An' when Dick says he's crook, he's crook. He's out there alone, you know. 1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder viii. 94 Letting him out just because he kidded he felt crook. 1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder x. 116 ‘He was looking horribly crook.’ ‘Ill?’ asked Alleyn cautiously. ‘Too right, sir.’ 1938 ‘R. Hyde’ Nor Years Condemn 208 A crook knee and arm. 1952 N. Donnan in Coast to Coast 1951–2 141 I got a crook hip, I can't do heavy work now. 1956 P. White Tree of Man 55 ‘She's crook. It looks like the milk fever,’ he said. 1960 B. Crump Good Keen Man 45 It saves you from getting the crook guts, boy. 1960 B. Crump Good Keen Man 49 He said he wasn't crook or anything. 1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 28 If I don't go out at least five nights a week the cook thinks I'm crook and gets all worried. Compounds C1. crook-like adj. ΚΠ 1888 F. G. Lee in Archaeologia 51 356 A bishop or abbot holding a crook-like pastoral staff. crook-saddle n. a saddle with crooks for carrying loads (cf. A. 9). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > saddle > types of saddle mail-saddle1360 trotter-saddle1381 panel1393 loadsaddle1397 packsaddle1398 limber-saddle1480 pillion1480 side-saddle1493 steel saddle1503 pilgate1511 mail pillowc1532 stock-saddle1537 pad1556 sunk1568 trunk-saddle1569 soda1586 mail pillion1586 running saddle1596 Scotch saddle1596 postilion saddle1621 pad-saddle1622 portmanteau-saddle1681 watering saddle1681 cart-saddle1692 demi-pique1695 crook-saddle1700 saddle pad1750 recado1825 aparejo1844 mountain saddle1849 somerset1851 pilch1863 cowboy saddle1880 sawbuck (pack)saddle1881 western saddle1883 cross-saddle1897 centre-fire1921 McClellan1940 poley1957 1700 Acc. St. Sebastian's in Harl. Misc. I. 413 Their iron bars are brought to the town on horses or mules, on crook-saddles. 1797 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. XIX. 248 [Stornoway] Horse-loads are..carried in small creels, one on each side of the horse, and fixed by a rope to the crook-saddle. C2. Parasynthetic combinations, as crook-billed, crook-fingered, crook-kneed, crook-legged, crook-lipped, crook-nosed, crook-shouldered, crook-sided, crook-sterned, crook-toothed adjs. See also crook-back n., crook-backed adj., crook-neck n., crook-necked adj.Crooked- was used in the same way from Wyclif onwards. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [adjective] > of shoulders crooked-shoulderedc1515 crump-shouldered1542 out-shouldered1579 crook-shouldered1580 round-shouldered1586 crumped-shouldered1603 round1702 hump-shouldereda1704 stoop-shouldered1748 huck-shouldered1847 the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [adjective] > of legs > having leglessc1390 bow-legged1552 crook-legged1580 shackle-hammed1592 baker-kneed1611 baker-legged1611 buckle-hammed1629 out-shinned1682 bandy-legged1688 crooked-legged1691 shackled-ham'd1733 badger-legged1738 tailor-legged1768 knock-kneed1774 scissor-legged1880 1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Bossu, downe backed, crooke shouldered. 1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Cancajoso Crooklegged. 1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades ii. 684 The crooke-stern'd [c1611 crookt-stern'd] shippes. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iv. i. 121 My hounds are..Crooke kneed, and deawlapt, like Thessalian Buls. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 171 Crook-tooth'd Lampreyes. 1684 tr. T. Bonet Guide Pract. Physician ix. 334 Oftentimes Children about two years old, when they begin to go, are crook-legged. 1775 S. Crisp Let. in F. Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 36 Reduc'd to a level with crook-finger'd Jack! C3. crookbilled plover n. the wry-bill of New Zealand, Anarhynchus frontalis. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022). crookv.¹ Brit. /krʊk/, U.S. /krʊk/ Forms: Middle English–1500s croke, Middle English– crook(e, (1500s croock). Etymology: < crook n. 1. a. transitive. To bend into an angular or curved form; to distort from a straight line; to curve. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > misshapenness > put out of shape [verb (transitive)] > make crooked or bent crookc1175 bend1393 crooken1552 the world > space > shape > curvature > curve or bend [verb (transitive)] beyc888 bowa1300 incrooka1340 inbowa1382 crook1382 plya1393 inflectc1425 courbe1430 wryc1450 cralla1475 crumbc1490 bought1521 compass1542 incurvate1578 ploy1578 incurve1610 curve1615 circumflex1649 wheel1656 curb1662 crumpa1821 curvaturec1933 c1175 Lamb. Hom. 61 Gif he binimeð us ure sihte..oðer us crokeð on fote oðer on honde. 1382 J. Wyclif Psalms lxviii. 24 The rig of hem euermor crooke thou in. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xix. 1156 Whanne he [sc. the camel] fongeþ charges vpon him þanne he bendeþ and crokeþ þe knees. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 59 And crooke the pregnant hindges of the knee. View more context for this quotation 1651 ‘A. B.’ tr. L. Lessius Sir Walter Rawleigh's Ghost 21 The star of Venus..crooking it self into hornes, as the moon doth. 1862 M. T. Morrall Hist. Needle-making 23 Hardening needles in oil instead of water, as the oil did not crook them so much. 1875 R. D. Blackmore Alice Lorraine III. v. 69 The air was so full of rheumatism that no man could crook his arm to write a sermon. †b. To curl (hair). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > beautify (the hair) [verb (transitive)] > curl crispc1340 crook1340 pincha1398 curl1447 frouncea1529 creis1553 frizzle1565 thrum1598 becurl1614 calamistrate1628 frizz1660 fruz1702 crimp1708 buckle1721 befriz1772 crape1774 crêpe1818 crinkle1871 permanently wave1901 marcel1906 water-wave1912 permanent wave1921 permanent1924 perm1928 tong1932 scrunch1983 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 177 Þe men þet doþ zuo grat payne ham to kembe..and ine hare here wel to croki. c. to crook one's mou' (Scottish): to distort the mouth in expression of displeasure or ill temper. ΚΠ 1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 86 O kend my minny I were wi' you Illfardly wad she crook her mou. 1803 J. Mayne Glasgow 31 (Jam.) They, scornfu', toss their head ajee, And crook their mou'. d. to crook one's elbow or little finger: to drink alcoholic liquor (esp. with implication of excess). slang. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] to drink deepa1300 bousec1300 bibc1400 to drink drunk1474 quaff1520 to set cock on the hoopa1535 boll1535 quass1549 tipple1560 swillc1563 carouse1567 guzzle1579 fuddle1588 overdrink1603 to drink the three outs1622 to bouse it1623 sota1639 drifflec1645 to drink like a fisha1653 tope1668 soak1687 to play at swig1688 to soak one's clay (or face)1704 impote1721 rosin1730 dram1740 booze1768 to suck (also sup) the monkey1785 swattle1785 lush1811 to lift up the little finger1812 to lift one's (or the) elbow1823 to crook one's elbow or little finger1825 jollify1830 to bowse up the jib1836 swizzle1847 peg1874 to hit the booze, bottle, jug, pot1889 to tank up1902 sozzle1937 to belt the bottle1941 indulge1953 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. (at cited word) To Crook the elbow; as, She crooks her elbow, a phrase used of a woman who uses too much freedom with the bottle, q. bending her elbow in reaching the drink to her mouth. 1836 Public Ledger (Philadelphia) 2 Aug. William Martin was fined for, as he quaintly expressed it, crooking his little finger too often. 1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) (at cited word) To crook one's elbow or one's little finger, is to tipple. 1875 W. Besant & J. Rice With Harp & Crown xix The secretary..might have done great things in literature but for his unfortunate crook of the elbow. As he only crooks it at night, it does not matter to the hospital. 1924 J. Masefield Sard Harker iii. 251 Sir James has sacked his old man for crooking his little finger: going on the jag, in other words. †2. figurative. To bend or turn out of the straight course, or from the direct meaning or intention; to pervert, ‘twist’. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > pervert or distort [verb (transitive)] crooka1340 deprave1382 pervertc1390 strainc1449 drawc1450 miswrest?a1475 bewrya1522 wry?1521 to make a Welshman's hose ofa1529 writhea1533 wrest1533 invert1534 wring?1541 depravate1548 rack1548 violent1549 wrench1549 train1551 wreathe1556 throw1558 detorta1575 shuffle1589 wriggle1593 distortc1595 to put, set, place, etc. on the rack1599 twine1600 wire-draw1610 monstrify1617 screw1628 corrupt1630 gloss1638 torture1648 force1662 vex1678 refract1700 warp1717 to put a force upon1729 twist1821 ply1988 society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)] > pervert or deprave bicharrea1100 crooka1340 subvertc1384 pervertc1425 traverse1438 overthwartc1450 perversec1475 deprave1482 crooken1552 preposterate1566 depravate1847 a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lvi. 8 Þai crokid my saule: that is, thai thoght to draghe it fra the luf of god in til the erth. 1382 J. Wyclif Psalms lvi. 7 Thei myche crookeden [L. incurvaverunt] my soule. 1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 144 That she may..Ne speke o word, ne ones loke, But he ne wil it wende and croke, And torne after his own entent. 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 21^v There is no one thinge y^t crokes youth more then suche vnlefull games. 1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 100 Hee crooketh them to his owne ends. 1646 J. Gregory Notes & Observ. xviii. 82 The more part..crooke the Prophesie to the Patriarch Abraham. 3. intransitive. To have or take a crooked form or direction; to be or become crooked; to bend, curve. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > misshapenness > lose shape or become misshapen [verb (intransitive)] > become crooked or bent crooka1300 bend1398 crooken1603 the world > space > shape > curvature > be or become curved or bent [verb (intransitive)] beyc888 bowOE fold13.. crumpc1325 windc1374 courbe1377 curb1377 plyc1395 bend1398 ploy?1473 bowl1513 bought1521 tirve1567 crookle1577 crook1579 compass1588 round1613 incurvate1647 circumflex1661 arcuate1678 to round off1678 sweep1725 curve1748 curvaturea1811 a1300 Song of Yesterday 98 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 135 Me meruayles..Þat god let mony mon croke and elde. 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vi. i. 187 In olde aege the body bendyth and crokyth. ?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Ciii Soone croketh the same tre, that good cramoke wylbe. 1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin viii. 458 A riuer both large & deepe..goeth crooking on the left hande. 1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 106 Their hornes crook backwards to their shoulders. 1876 C. D. Warner Winter on Nile 240 Fingers that crook easily. †4. intransitive. To bend the body in sign of reverence or humility; to bow. Obsolete or archaic. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > bow, kneel, or curtsey loutc825 abowOE bowa1000 kneel?a1000 kneec1000 crookc1320 to bow the knee1382 inclinec1390 crouchc1394 croukc1394 coucha1500 plya1500 to make or do courtesy1508 beck1535 to make a (long, low, etc.) leg1548 curtsya1556 dopc1557 binge1562 jouk1567 beckon1578 benda1586 humblea1592 vaila1593 to scrape a leg1602 congee1606 to give the stoop1623 leg1628 scrape1645 to drop a curtsy1694 salaam1698 boba1794 dip1818 to make (also perform) a cheese1834 c1320 tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 149 He stode krokyng [v.r. croked] on knees knelyng Afore hys cretures fete syttyng. 1645 S. Rutherford Tryal & Trivmph of Faith (1845) 312 That the Sinner may halt and crook. 1841 R. W. Emerson Prudence in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 241 Shuffle they will, and crow, crook, and hide. †5. intransitive. To turn or bend aside out of the straight course (literal and figurative). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > erring > [verb (intransitive)] misfareeOE failc1290 stumblec1325 errc1374 crookc1380 miscarryc1390 swervea1400 delire?a1475 pervertc1475 misguide1480 prevaricate1582 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement [verb (intransitive)] > diverge from course bowa1000 swervec1330 wrya1350 crookc1380 to turn asidea1382 depart1393 decline14.. wryc1400 divert1430 desvoy1481 wave1548 digress1552 prevaricate1582 yaw1584 to turn off1605 to come off1626 deviate1635 sag1639 to flinch out1642 deflect1646 de-err1657 break1678 verge1693 sheera1704 to break off1725 lean1894 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > act wrongly or immorally [verb (intransitive)] > err or go wrong or astray misfareeOE wanderc897 dwelec900 miswendOE misfereOE misnimc1225 failc1290 to go willa1300 misgoc1300 misstepc1300 errc1315 strayc1325 folly1357 wryc1369 crookc1380 miscarryc1390 ravec1390 astray1393 forloinc1400 delire?a1475 to go wrong?1507 to tread the shoe awrya1542 swerve1576 prevaricate1582 tread awrya1625 c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 230 He schal not croke in-to þe riȝtte side ne in-to þe left side. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 87/4 Goyng right without crokyng. 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 37^v It [sc. the snow] flewe not streight, but sometyme it crooked thys waye sometyme that waye. 1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 212 He must not runne directly forward, but wind too and fro, crooking like an indenture. 6. transitive. In polo, to catch hold of (an opponent's stick) with one's own stick, so as to interfere with his play. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > equestrian sports except racing > polo > play polo [verb (transitive)] > actions crook1890 to hit in1906 ride-off1909 1890 G. J. Younghusband Polo in India ii. 21 No player shall crook his adversary's stick unless he is on the same side of the pony as the ball, or immediately behind. 1898 T. B. Drybrough Polo xi. 268 ‘Crooking’ means ‘interposing’ a stick between the ball and an adversary's stick..so as to ‘hook’ and arrest it. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 820/2 They have no off side [in American polo], and it is not permitted to crook the stick of an adversary. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † crookv.² Forms: Middle English–1600s crouk(e, Middle English (1800s dialect) crowk, 1500s–1600s crooke. Etymology: Echoic: compare croak v.The phonetic relations between crouke, crowke, 17th cent. crook, and modern north dialect crowk are not clear. Obsolete. 1. intransitive. To croak. Rarely transitive. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > by noises > voice or sound made by animal > make sound [verb (intransitive)] > croak crobc1350 crook14.. croaka1500 croape1508 croup1513 crawk1889 quirk1894 14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 623 A lytulle frogge crowkyt. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 459 He [the raven] croukez for comfort when carayne he fyndez. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 105 Crowken, as cranes, gruo. Crowken, as todes, or frosshes, coaxo. 1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse 150 They crouke harshly. 1617 G. Wither Fidelia Fatall Ravens that..Crooke their black Auguries. 1878 W. Dickinson Gloss. Words & Phrases Cumberland (ed. 2) Crowk, to croak. ‘The guts crowk’ when the bowels make a rumbling noise. 2. To coo or crood, as a dove. Cf. crookle v.² ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [verb (intransitive)] > make sound (of dove) mourna1522 crookle1574 crook1586 whorr1598 croo1611 coo1672 cruckle1691 roocoocoo1922 1586 W. Webbe tr. Virgil Aeglogue i, in Disc. Eng. Poetrie sig. H.iij Neither..thy beloude Doues..Nor prettie Turtles trim, will cease to crooke. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Geindre,..to crooe, crooke, or mourne as a doue. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2021). < n.adj.c1175v.¹c1175v.²14..
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crookn.adj.

Compounds

crookv.1

† crookv.2

crookv.¹

† crookv.²