Where does “rook” come from?
Rook comes from Middle English rok, from Middle Dutch roke, from Old Dutch rouc, from Persian رخ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to movement and sound.
rook (English): A European bird, "Corvus frugilegus", of the crow...
Definitions
- A European bird, "Corvus frugilegus", of the crow...
Ancestry of “rook”, step by step
rook traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English rook
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | rook | — |
| 2 | Old French | roc | rook |
| 3 | Arabic | رُخّ | — |
| 4 | Persian | رخ | rook; cheek; face |
| 5 | Middle Persian | lhw' | rook, castle |
| 6 | Sanskrit | रथ | chariot, car, especially a two-wheeled... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | Hrátʰas | chariot |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | Hrót-h₂-os | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | Hret- | to roll; wheel; to run, roll |
via English rookie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | rookie | An inexperienced recruit, especially in the... |