Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Rogue
Rogue
,Noun.
[F.
rogue
proud, haughty, supercilious; cf. Icel. hr[GREEK]kr
a rook, croaker (cf. Rook
a bird), or Armor. rok
, rog
, proud, arogant.] 1.
(Eng.Law)
A vagrant; an idle, sturdy beggar; a vagabond; a tramp.
☞ The phrase rogues and vagabonds is applied to a large class of wandering, disorderly, or dissolute persons. They were formerly punished by being whipped and having the gristle of the right ear bored with a hot iron.
2.
A deliberately dishonest person; a knave; a cheat.
The
rogue
and fool by fits is fair and wise. Pope.
3.
One who is pleasantly mischievous or frolicsome; hence, often used as a term of endearment.
Ah, you sweet little
rogue
, you! Shakespeare
4.
An elephant that has separated from a herd and roams about alone, in which state it is very savage.
5.
(Hort.)
A worthless plant occuring among seedlings of some choice variety.
Rogues’ gallery
, a collection of portraits of rogues or criminals, for the use of the police authorities.
– Rogue's march
, derisive music performed in driving away a person under popular indignation or official sentence, as when a soldier is drummed out of a regiment.
– Rogue's yarn
, yarn of a different twist and color from the rest, inserted into the cordage of the British navy, to identify it if stolen, or for the purpose of tracing the maker in case of defect. Different makers are required to use yarns of different colors.
Rogue
,Verb.
I.
To wander; to play the vagabond; to play knavish tricks.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Rogue
,Verb.
T.
1.
To give the name or designation of rogue to; to decry.
[Obs.]
Cudworth.
2.
(Hort.)
To destroy (plants that do not come up to a required standard).
Webster 1828 Edition
Rogue
ROGUE
,Noun.
rog.
1.
In law, a vagrant; a sturdy beggar; a vagabond. Persons of this character were, by the ancient laws of England, to be punished by whipping and having the ear bored with a hot iron.2.
A knave; a dishonest person; applied now, I believe, exclusively to males. This word comprehends thieves and robbers, but is generally applied to such as cheat and defraud in mutual dealings, or to counterfeiters.The rogue and fool by fits is fair and wise.
3.
A name of slight tenderness and endearment.Alas, poor rogue, I think indeed she loves.
4.
A wag.ROGUE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To wander; to play the vagabond. [Little used.]2.
To play knavish tricks. [Little used.]