Rogue, v. i. To wander; to play the
vagabond; to play knavish tricks. [Obs.] Spenser.
Rogue (?), n. [F. rogue proud,
haughty, supercilious; cf. Icel. hr?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!
Shak.
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, v. 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).