Английский Этимологический словарь - rook (1)

- "European crow," O.E. hroc, from P.Gmc. *khrokaz, possibly imitative of its raucous voice. Used as a disparaging term for persons since at least 1508, and extended by 1577 to mean "a cheat," especially at cards or dice. The verb from this meaning is first attested 1590. Rookery "colony of rooks" is from 1725.