Since I am a Diablo fan, I always think of rogues as women archers. A D&D site states that they are like a thief class. Where did this name come from? Is there any mention in old literature? Is a male rogue something else? Is there a reason why they are females? Is ranged weaponry associated with them outside of Diablo?
rogue [rohg] 1.a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel. 2.a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues. 3.a tramp or vagabond. 4.a rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition. 5.Biology. a usually inferior organism, especially a plant, varying markedly from the normal. verb (used without object), rogued, roguing. 6.to live or act as a rogue. verb (used with object), rogued, roguing. 7.to cheat. 8.to uproot or destroy (plants, etc., that do not conform to a desired standard). 9.to perform this operation upon: to rogue a field. adjective 10.(of an animal) having an abnormally savage or unpredictable disposition, as a rogue elephant. 11.no longer obedient, belonging, or accepted and hence not controllable or answerable; renegade:a rogue cop; a rogue union local. Origin of rogue 1555-65; apparently short for obsolete roger begging vagabond.
