rocket

Etymology 1

From Italian rocchetta, from Old Italian rocchetto (“rocket”, literally “a bobbin”), diminutive of rocca (“a distaff”), from Lombardic rocko (“spinning wheel”), from Proto-West Germanic *rokkō, from Proto-Germanic *rukkô (“a distaff, a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it, used in spinning thread”). Cognate with Old High German rocco, rocko, roccho, rocho ("a distaff"; > German Rocken (“a distaff”)), Swedish rock (“a distaff”), Icelandic rokkur (“a distaff”), Middle English rocke (“a distaff”). More at rock⁴.

noun

1. A rocket engine.
2. (military) A non-guided missile propelled by a rocket engine.
3. A vehicle propelled by a rocket engine.
4. A rocket propelled firework; a skyrocket.
5. (slang) An ace (the playing card).
6. (military slang) An angry communication (such as a letter or telegram) to a subordinate.
   While [Colonel Robert] Solborg and [Jacques] Lemaigre[-Dubreuil] were dreaming of revolts, [William Joseph “Wild Bill”] Donovan had learned of Solborg’s insubordination and meddling. He sent him a “rocket” ordering him out of North Africa and back to Lisbon at once. Solborg flew to Lisbon and then on to Washington to face out his problem with Donovan. 1980, David Schoenbrun, Soldiers of the Night: The Story of the French Resistance, Dutton, page 203
7. A blunt lance head used in jousting.
8. (figurative) Something that shoots high in the air.
   Fernandinho launched a rocket that flew just over. Gundogan's shot hit off Sviatchenko and Gordon and went out. City pressed and pressed. 28 September 2016, Tom English, “Celtic 3–3 Manchester City”, in BBC Sport, BBC Sport
9. (Scotland, slang) A stupid or crazy person.
   Why were the Luddites named efter Ned Ludd? A wee rocket. A wee fucken fairy bampot. A pure hooligan, smashing stuff up. A ned. Ned Ludd. 2014, Alistair Beaton, Rob Drummond, Morna Pearson, Contemporary Scottish Plays
10. (South East England, slang) A very physically attractive woman.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To accelerate swiftly and powerfully.
   With Free Guy, Reynolds gets just a little more in touch with his Carrey side via nothing less than his own version of The Truman Show, shorn of its daydream dread and rocketed into the age of Fortnite. 6 August 2021, A. A. Dowd, “The Ryan Reynolds action-comedy Free Guy is a Truman Show for the Fortnite age”, in The A.V. Club
2. To fly vertically.
3. To rise or soar rapidly.
   The project was attractive because of the ability to maximise the use of existing and decommissioned railways, minimise land take, and decrease the amount of disruption during the project. With London land prices rocketing, there was also a significant financial incentive. May 20 2020, Paul Bigland, “East London Line's renaissance”, in Rail, pages 48–49
   The cost of food in the UK had rocketed by 25% since 2019, the researchers calculated, but if the post-Brexit trade restrictions were not in place then this increase would be only 17% – nearly a third lower. 2023-05-24, Phillip Inman, “Brexit food trade barriers have cost UK households £7bn, report finds”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
4. To experience sudden fame, popularity, or success.
   After spending years in obscurity, the band finally rocketed last week.
5. To carry something in a rocket.
6. To attack something with rockets.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French roquette, from Italian ruchetta, diminutive of ruca, from Latin eruca. Cognate to arugula, rucola, eruca, roquette.

noun

1. The leaf vegetable Eruca sativa or Eruca vesicaria.
2. Rocket larkspur (Consolida regalis).