n., v., & adj.
n. 1 the hooked staff of a shepherd or bishop. 2 a a bend, curve, or hook. b anything hooked or curved. 3 colloq. a a rogue; a swindler. b a professional criminal.
v.tr. & intr. bend, curve.
adj. 1 crooked. 2 Austral. & NZ colloq. a unsatisfactory, out of order; (of a person) unwell, injured. b unpleasant. c dishonest, unscrupulous. d bad-tempered, irritable, angry. crook-back a hunchback. crook-backed hunchbacked. go crook (usu. foll. by at, on) Austral. & NZ colloq. lose one's temper; become angry. crookery n.
[ ME f. ON krókr hook ]