Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CROOK, n. [Sw. krok; Dan. krog; Fr. croc, crochet; Arm. crocq; Ir. cruca; W. crwg, crwca, croca; Goth. hrugg, a shepherd's crook, which in Italian is rocco; W. crug, a heap, a rick; Sax. hric; Eng. a ridge; G. rücken, the back or ridge of an animal. These words appear to be connected with L. ruga, a wrinkle, Russ. kryg, okrug, a circle. Wrinkling forms roughness, and this is the radical sense of hoarseness, It. roco, hoarse, L. raucus, Eng. rough, W. cryg, rough, hoarse. The radical sense of crook is to strain or draw: hence, to bend.]

1. Any bend, turn or curve; or a bent or curving instrument. We speak of a crook in a stick of timber, or in a river; and any hook is a crook.
2. A shepherd's staff, curving at the end; a pastoral staff. When used by a bishop or abbot, it is called a crosier. He left his crook, he left his flocks. – Prior.
3. A gibbet.
4. An artifice; a trick. – Cranmer.