Crook definition | Dictionary.com

crook

1 [kroo

–noun

1.	a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc.; hook.

2.	the hooked part of anything.

3.	an instrument or implement having a bent or curved part, as a shepherd's staff hooked at one end or the crosier of a bishop or abbot.

4.	a dishonest person, esp. a sharper, swindler, or thief.

5.	a bend, turn, or curve: a crook in the road.

6.	the act of crooking or bending.

7.	a pothook.

8.	Also called shank. a device on some musical wind instruments for changing the pitch, consisting of a piece of tubing inserted into the main tube.

–verb (used with object)

9.	to bend; curve; make a crook in.

10.	Slang. to steal, cheat, or swindle: She crooked a ring from that shop.

–verb (used without object)

11.	to bend; curve.

Origin:
1125–75; ME crok(e) < ON krāka hook

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Crook

Spanish:

cayado, báculo (obispo),

German:

der (Hirten-, *Bischofs-)Stab,

Japanese:

柄の曲った杖

View 30 other languages »

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crook

2 [kroo

–adjective Australian.

1.	sick or feeble.

2.	ill-humored; angry.

3.	out of order; functioning improperly.

4.	unsatisfactory; disappointing.

Origin:
1875–80; perh. alter. of cronk

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Crook

[kroo

–noun

George, 1829–90, U.S. general in Indian wars.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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crook¹ (krŏŏk) Pronunciation Key
n.

An implement or tool, such as a bishop's crosier or a shepherd's staff, with a bent or curved part.
A part that is curved or bent like a hook.
A curve or bend; a turn: a crook in the path.
Informal One who makes a living by dishonest methods.

v.   crooked, crook·ing, crooks

v.   tr.
To make a crook in; bend.
v.   intr.
To bend or curve. See Synonyms at bend¹.

[Middle English crok, from Old Norse krōkr.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crook² (krŏŏk) Pronunciation Key
adj. Australian

Out of order; faulty.
Not well; ill.
Of poor quality; inferior.
Not honest; crooked.

[From crooked or crook¹.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Crook (krŏŏk) Pronunciation Key
American general who defeated the Sioux (1876) and subdued the Chiricahua Apaches under Geronimo (1883).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

crook

c.1225, "hook-shaped instrument or weapon," from O.N. krokr "hook, corner," of obscure origin. Meaning of "swindler" is Amer.Eng., 1879, but crook "dishonest trick" was in M.E.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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crook
noun
1.	someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime [syn: criminal]
2.	a circular segment of a curve; "a bend in the road"; "a crook in the path" [syn: bend]
3.	a long staff with one end being hook shaped
verb
1.	bend or cause to bend; "He crooked his index finger"; "the road curved sharply"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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crook

In addition to the idioms beginning with crook, also see by hook or crook.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Crook, CO (town, FIPS 18640)
Location: (40.858586, -102.801195)
Population (2000): 128 (80 housing units)
Area: 0.129100 sq mi (land), 0.000000 sq mi (water)
Zip code(s): 80726

Crook, CO (CCD, FIPS 07590931)
Location: (40.883911, -102.817749)
Population (2000): 553 (267 housing units)
Area: 171.396421 sq mi (land), 1.150742 sq mi (water)
Zip code(s): 80726

Crook, OR (County, FIPS 013)
Location: (44.212739, -120.534152)
Population (2000): 19,182 (8,264 housing units)
Area: 2979.381699 sq mi (land), 8.032038 sq mi (water)

Crook, WY (County, FIPS 011)
Location: (44.561657, -104.638851)
Population (2000): 5,887 (2,935 housing units)
Area: 2858.590994 sq mi (land), 11.926740 sq mi (water)

Crook, AR (township, FIPS 04390969)
Location: (33.479259, -91.945380)
Population (2000): 301 (137 housing units)
Area: 64.234980 sq mi (land), 0.278438 sq mi (water)

Crook, IL (township, FIPS 06517627)
Location: (38.087392, -88.419043)
Population (2000): 347 (168 housing units)
Area: 35.843517 sq mi (land), 0.139259 sq mi (water)

Camp Crook, SD (town, FIPS 09260)
Location: (45.549727, -103.975307)
Population (2000): 56 (51 housing units)
Area: 0.137801 sq mi (land), 0.000000 sq mi (water)

Camp Crook, SD (town, FIPS 06309260)
Location: (45.549727, -103.975307)
Population (2000): 56 (51 housing units)
Area: 0.137801 sq mi (land), 0.000000 sq mi (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Crook

Crook\ (kr[oo^]k), n. [OE. crok; akin to Icel. kr[onac]kr hook, bend, SW. krok, Dan. krog, OD. krooke; or cf. Gael. crocan crook, hook, W. crwca crooked. Cf. Crosier, Crotchet, Crutch, Encroach.]

1. A bend, turn, or curve; curvature; flexure.

Through lanes, and crooks, and darkness. --Phaer.

2. Any implement having a bent or crooked end. Especially: (a) The staff used by a shepherd, the hook of which serves to hold a runaway sheep. (b) A bishop's staff of office. Cf. Pastoral staff.

He left his crook, he left his flocks. --Prior.

3. A pothook. "As black as the crook." --Sir W. Scott.

4. An artifice; trick; tricky device; subterfuge.

For all yuor brags, hooks, and crooks. --Cranmer.

5. (Mus.) A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet, horn, etc., to change its pitch or key.

6. A person given to fraudulent practices; an accomplice of thieves, forgers, etc. [Cant, U.S.]

By hook or by crook, in some way or other; by fair means or foul.

Crook

Crook\ (kr??k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crooked (kr??kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Crooking.] [OE. croken; cf. Sw. kr?ka, Dan. kr?ge. See Crook, n.]

1. To turn from a straight line; to bend; to curve.

Crook the pregnant hinges of the knee. --Shak.

2. To turn from the path of rectitude; to pervert; to misapply; to twist. [Archaic]

There is no one thing that crooks youth more than such unlawfull games. --Ascham.

What soever affairs pass such a man's hands, he crooketh them to his own ends. --Bacon.

Crook

Crook\, v. i. To bend; to curve; to wind; to have a curvature. " The port . . . crooketh like a bow." --Phaer.

Their shoes and pattens are snouted, and piked more than a finger long, crooking upwards. --Camden.

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