I. ˈkru̇k noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English crok, from Old Norse krōkr hook; akin to Old High German krācho hook-shaped tool, Old Norse kraki pole with a hook, Greek gyrgathos wicker basket, Latvian gredzens ring, Old English cradol cradle — more at cradle
1. : any implement having a bent or hooked form: as
a. obsolete : sickle
b. : hook (as a pothook)
c. : the hinge of a gate or door
d. archaic
(1) : the staff used by a shepherd
(2) : crosier 2
2.
a. obsolete : a piece of trickery : artifice , subterfuge
b. : a person given to crooked or fraudulent practices : swindler , thief
what the insurance crook does is always the same: fakes an accident and claims … damages — Henry La Cossitt
3.
a. obsolete : a bending of the knee or body in reverence
b. : the act or action of bending
4.
a. : a portion of something that is hook-shaped, curved, or bent
the crooks of a river
the crook of an umbrella handle
b.
(1) : a small tube inserted in the tube of a trumpet or horn to change its pitch or key
(2) : the curved tube carrying the mouthpiece of a bassoon
c. : a longitudinal warp in a piece of lumber determined by its deviation from a straight line drawn from one edge at one end to the corresponding edge at the opposite end
5. : an angular or odd-shaped bit of land
6. usually plural , obsolete : bracket 4b
II. verb
( crooked -kt ; crooked “ ; crooking ; crooks )
Etymology: Middle English croken, from crok, n.
transitive verb
1. : to turn from a straight line : bend
crooked his neck in order to get a better view — Hamilton Basso
2. obsolete : to twist perversely : misapply
3. slang
a. : to make dishonest or ineffective : cause to go wrong
crook a deal
b. : cheat
you wouldn't crook a friend, would you?
c. : to obtain or manipulate dishonestly or by fraud
he was living pretty much from supplies crooked from the army
intransitive verb
1. : bend , curve , wind
a river crooking through a valley
sunflowers, crooking over in the sun — William Goyen
2. archaic : to bow (as in obeisance)
3. obsolete : to turn from a straight or direct course
III. adjective
Etymology: perhaps alteration of cronk (III)
1. Australia
a. : physically unwell : sick
crook with the flu
b. : out of sorts : angry , ill-humored , irritable — often used with go
he's going crook at the men for not working
2. Australia
a. : out of order : not in proper working condition
something crook with the car
b. : poorly suited : unsatisfactory
a crook place for a dance — not enough girls — Nevil Shute