I. ˈrōg noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1.
a. : vagrant , tramp , beggar
b. : a wandering, disorderly, or dissolute person formerly accountable under various vagrancy acts — usually used in the phrase rogues and vagabonds
2.
a. : a dishonest unprincipled person ; specifically : swindler
b. : a worthless fellow : scoundrel
3. : a pleasantly mischievous person
tell me about … the dear little rogues — Walt Whitman
4.
a.
(1) : rogue elephant
(2) : a large animal with habits like those of a rogue elephant
b. : a horse inclined to shirk or misbehave
5.
a. : an individual exhibiting a chance biological variation or deviating from the type of a variety or breed — usually used of an inferior, diseased, or abnormal plant
b. : a normal plant (as of a named variety) that is accidentally mixed in with plants of another kind (as a red tulip in a field of white tulips
Synonyms: see villain
II. verb
( rogued ; rogued ; rogu·ing or rogue·ing ; rogues )
intransitive verb
1. : to wander or act like a rogue
2. : to weed out inferior, diseased, or abnormal individuals from a crop
by careful selection and roguing the … strain was evolved — Gardeners' Chronicle
transitive verb
1. : to weed out (as an inferior plant or a field)
2. : to act like a rogue toward : swindle
III. adjective
1. of an animal : vicious and destructive
rogue otter
2. : resembling a rogue elephant in being separated or vicious
the rogue male self-exiled from society — E.O.Hauser
wrecked by a rogue mine — Alfred Bester