1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 70 There is indeed a pernicious destructive sort of Flattery, wherewith Rookers [L. perfidiosi], and Sharkes work their several ends upon such as they can make a prey of.

?1785 Tricks of London (ed. 6) 42 A perfect trade for Rookers and Sharpers.

1890 J. H. McCarthy French Revol. I. xii. 196 The poor cardinal was patient, a more patient gull never lent himself to the rookers.

1805 A. Edlin Treat. Art Bread-making vi. 93 The wood being converted to an ash, the rooker was put into the oven and the ashes drawn up to the month; the hoe then scraped out what escaped the rooker, and all the ashes were thrown with the spade into the ash-hole.

1813 ‘T. Martin’ Circle Mech. Arts 61/2 The rooker. This is a long piece of iron, in shape somewhat resembling the letter L, fixed in a wooden handle.—Its use is to draw out the ashes from all parts of the oven to the mouth.

1852 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) I. 179/2 The rooker, a tool resembling the letter L, fixed in a wooden handle, for the purpose of drawing out the ashes from the oven.