General
rooker
What does rooker mean?
Used wherever English would say hand, including grabbing, holding, and striking.
"He laid a heavy rooker on the boy's shoulder."
Origin
Coined by Burgess in A Clockwork Orange (1962) from the Russian 'ruka', 'hand'. Burgess's spelling 'rooker' also faintly echoes the English 'rook', adding a sly extra layer.
Frequently asked questions
What does rooker mean?
It is Nadsat for the hand or arm, from the Russian 'ruka'.
Where did rooker come from?
Anthony Burgess coined it for A Clockwork Orange in 1962 from the Russian word 'ruka'.
Does rooker mean hand or arm?
Chiefly the hand, though it can stretch to the arm, mirroring the broad sense of Russian 'ruka'.
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