- rook (n.1)
- "European crow," Old English hroc, from Proto-Germanic *khrokaz (cf. Old Norse hrokr, Middle Dutch roec, Middle Swedish roka, Old High German hruoh), possibly imitative of its raucous voice. Used as a disparaging term for persons since at least c.1500, and extended by 1570s to mean "a cheat," especially at cards or dice. The verb "to defraud by cheating" (originally especially in a game) is first attested 1580s.
- rook (n.2)
- "chess piece," c.1300, from Old French roc, from Arabic rukhkh, from Persian rukh, of unknown meaning, perhaps somehow related to the Indian name for the piece, rut, from Hindi rath "chariot." Confused in Middle English with roc.