From Middle English noke, nok (“nook, corner, angle”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots neuk, nuk (“corner, angle of a square, angular object”). Perhaps from Old English hnoc, hnocc (“hook, angle”), from Proto-Germanic *hnukkaz, *hnukkô (“a bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *knewg- (“to turn, press”), from Proto-Indo-European *ken- (“to pinch, press, bend”). If so, then also related to Scots nok (“small hook”), Norwegian dialectal nok, nokke (“hook, angle, bent object”), Danish nokke (“hook”), Swedish nocke (“hook”), Faroese nokki (“crook”), Icelandic hnokki (“hook”), Dutch nok (“ridge”), Low German Nocke (“tip”), Old Norse hnúka (“to bend, crouch”), Old English ġehnycned (“drawn, pinched, wrinkled”).
nook (plural nooks)
- A small corner formed by two walls; an alcove or recess or ancone.
- There was a small broom for sweeping ash kept in the nook between the fireplace bricks and the wall.
- A hidden or secluded spot.
- The back of the used book shop was one of her favorite nooks; she could read for hours and no one would bother her or pester her to buy.