drook
Very Low / Obsolete / DialectalArchaic, Dialectal (chiefly Scottish and Northern English)
Definition
Meaning
To drench or soak thoroughly; to make something extremely wet.
To saturate completely, often implying a state of being uncomfortably or unpleasantly wet, typically from rain or immersion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is now largely obsolete in standard English and survives primarily in historical texts or specific regional dialects. It is synonymous with 'drench' but carries a stronger, more thorough connotation of wetness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is a recognized but archaic/dialectal term, primarily Scottish. In American English, it is virtually unknown and would be considered a non-standard or obscure word.
Connotations
In its regional use, it may carry a rustic or traditional flavour. Elsewhere, it sounds old-fashioned.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage for both varieties, but marginally more attested in historical UK texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] drooks [Object] (e.g., The storm drooked us).[Subject] gets drooked (by [Agent]) (e.g., We got drooked waiting for the bus).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drook to the skin”
- “drooked like a drowned rat”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or studies of dialect literature.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would likely confuse listeners.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The sudden downpour will drook you if you don't find shelter.
- He was drookit after falling into the burn.
American English
- (Not used in AmE; substitute 'drench') The storm will drench you if you don't find shelter.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used) The rain fell drookingly for hours.
American English
- (Not used in AmE)
adjective
British English
- They came home drook and miserable.
- His drook coat weighed him down.
American English
- (Not used in AmE; substitute 'soaked') They came home soaked and miserable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not recommended for A2; use 'very wet' instead.)
- After the football match in the rain, the players were drook.
- I forgot my umbrella and got drook on the way home.
- The old shepherd, caught in the storm, was drook to the skin and chilled to the bone.
- Nothing could drook his spirits, even the relentless Highland rain.
- The poet described the mariners as 'drookit in the brine of the northern sea', evoking their utter exhaustion.
- This archaic verb, 'to drook', survives in dialect, conveying a more vivid sense of saturation than its modern equivalents.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DRagon getting sOOKed by a waterfall – DROOK.
Conceptual Metaphor
WETNESS IS TOTAL IMMERSION / LIQUID IS AN AGGRESSIVE FORCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'друг' (friend). The closest common translation is 'промочить' or 'вымочить', but 'drook' implies a more severe state.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in modern standard writing.
- Spelling it as 'druk' or 'drooke'.
- Pronouncing it with a short /ʊ/ sound.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'drook' be MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic or dialectal word, primarily from Scotland and Northern England. It is very rarely used in modern standard English.
They are synonyms, but 'drook' is stronger and more thorough, often implying a state of being uncomfortably wet. 'Drench' is the standard modern term.
Only if you are specifically writing about historical language, dialects, or quoting a source that uses it. Otherwise, use standard terms like 'saturate' or 'drench'.
It is pronounced /druːk/, rhyming with 'spook'.