Brook \Brook\, n. [OE. brok, broke, brook, AS. br[=o]c; akin to D. broek, LG. br[=o]k, marshy ground, OHG. pruoh, G. bruch marsh; prob. fr. the root of E. break, so as that it signifies water breaking through the earth, a spring or brook, as well as a marsh. See Break, v. t.]

A natural stream of water smaller than a river or creek.

The Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water. --Deut. viii. 7.

Empires itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Brook \Brook\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brooked; p. pr. & vb. n. Brooking.]

[OE. broken, bruken, to use, enjoy, digest, AS. br?can; akin to D. gebruiken to use, OHG. pr?hhan, G. brauchen, gebrauchen, Icel. br?ka, Goth. br?kjan, and L. frui, to enjoy. Cf. Fruit, Broker.]

1. To use; to enjoy. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

2. To bear; to endure; to put up with; to tolerate; as, young men can not brook restraint. --Spenser.

Shall we, who could not brook one lord, Crouch to the wicked ten? --Macaulay.

3. To deserve; to earn. [Obs.]

--Sir J. Hawkins.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)