Rogue's yarn

Rogue Rogue, n. [F. rogue proud, haughty, supercilious; cf. Icel. hr?kr a rook, croaker (cf. {Rook} a bird), or Armor. rok, rog, proud, arogant.] 1. (Eng.Law) A vagrant; an idle, sturdy beggar; a vagabond; a tramp. [1913 Webster]

Note: The phrase rogues and vagabonds is applied to a large class of wandering, disorderly, or dissolute persons. They were formerly punished by being whipped and having the gristle of the right ear bored with a hot iron. [1913 Webster]

2. A deliberately dishonest person; a knave; a cheat. [1913 Webster]

The rogue and fool by fits is fair and wise. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. One who is pleasantly mischievous or frolicsome; hence, often used as a term of endearment. [1913 Webster]

Ah, you sweet little rogue, you! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. An elephant that has separated from a herd and roams about alone, in which state it is very savage. [1913 Webster]

5. (Hort.) A worthless plant occuring among seedlings of some choice variety. [1913 Webster]

{Rogues' gallery}, a collection of portraits of rogues or criminals, for the use of the police authorities.

{Rogue's march}, derisive music performed in driving away a person under popular indignation or official sentence, as when a soldier is drummed out of a regiment.

{Rogue's yarn}, yarn of a different twist and color from the rest, inserted into the cordage of the British navy, to identify it if stolen, or for the purpose of tracing the maker in case of defect. Different makers are required to use yarns of different colors. [1913 Webster]