Where does “rook” come from?

rook (Middle English) comes from Old French roc, from Arabic رُخّ, from Persian رخ, from Middle Persian lhw', from Sanskrit रथ, from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrátʰas, from Proto-Indo-European Hrót-h₂-os, from Proto-Indo-European Hret- — to roll; wheel; to run, roll.

Ancestry of “rook”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchrocrook
2Arabicرُخّ—
3Persianرخrook; cheek; face
4Middle Persianlhw'rook, castle
5Sanskritरथchariot, car, especially a two-wheeled...
6Proto-Indo-IranianHrátʰaschariot
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrót-h₂-os—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHret-to roll; wheel; to run, roll

Words derived from “rook”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hret- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrót-h₂-os →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrátʰas →