- brook (n.)
- "small stream," O.E. broc "flowing stream," of obscure origin, probably from P.Gmc. *broka- which yielded words in Ger. (Bruch) and Du. (broek) that have a sense of "marsh." In Sussex and Kent, it means "water-meadow," and in plural, "low, marshy ground."
- brook (v.)
- "to endure," O.E. bruccan "use," from P.Gmc. *bruk- "to make use of, enjoy" (cf. Ger. brauchen "to use"), from PIE base *bhrug- "to make use of, have enjoyment of" (cf. L. fructus). Sense of "use" applied to food led to "be able to digest," and by 16c. to "tolerate."