the.com/rook
the only chess piece that moves like it's late for something.
means To rook someone is to cheat or swindle them out of money, often by overcharging; the word is also the name of the corner chess piece that slides in straight lines, and of a large, sociable black crow-like bird.
from The bird came first: 'rook' descends from Old English 'hroc,' an imitation of the bird's harsh, throaty croak — language pointing at a sound. Because rooks were seen as thieving, clamorous birds, the name became slang for a cheat or swindler, and 'to rook' someone meant to fleece them. The chess piece, oddly, has a separate root entirely — it comes via Old French and ultimately Persian 'rukh,' the name of a chariot in the original game, which only later got reshaped into the castle-tower we picture today.
- castle move
- only piece that swaps places with the king
- actual bird
- a crow smart enough to use tools
- name origin
- from Persian rukh, a mythical giant bird
- endgame king
- rooks dominate the board's final battles
- con artist
- to rook someone means to swindle them
tower of london — 21 ravens kept there since 17th century, legend says kingdom will fall if they leave
poe's the raven — 1845 poem featuring a talking raven perched on a bust of athena