Historical source · 1908

Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 33

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Page 33 of 179

Creasote

Creasote. See Creosote.

English · e-37683-6381 · brief source record

Create

Create, krē-āt′, v.t. to bring into being or form out of nothing: to beget: to form: to invest with a new form, office, or character: to produce.—adj. Creāt′able.—n. Creā′tion, the act of creating, esp. the universe: tha

English · e-37683-6382

Creatine

Creatine, krē′a-tin, n. a constant and characteristic constituent of the striped muscle of vertebrates—also Kre′atine.—adj. Creat′ic, relating to flesh.—n. Cre′atinine, dehydrated form, a constant constituent of urine, f

English · e-37683-6383

Crèche

Crèche, kresh, n. a sort of public nursery for children, while their mothers are at work. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6384 · brief source record

Credence

Credence, krē′dens, n. belief: trust: the small table beside the altar on which the bread and wine are placed before being consecrated.—n. Creden′dum, a thing to be believed, an act of faith:—pl. Credenda.—adjs. Crē′dent

English · e-37683-6385

Creek

Creek, krēk, n. a small inlet or bay of the sea, or the tidal estuary of a river: any turn or winding: in America and Australia, a small river.—adj. Creek′y, full of creeks: winding. [Prob. Scand., Ice. kriki, a nook; cf

English · e-37683-6386

Creel

Creel, krēl, n. a basket, esp. an angler's basket. [Prob. Celt; cf. Old Ir. criol, a chest.]

English · e-37683-6387 · brief source record

Creep

Creep, krēp, v.i. to move on the belly, like a snake: to move slowly: to grow along the ground or on supports, as a vine: to fawn or cringe: to have the physical sensation of something creeping over or under the skin: to

English · e-37683-6388

Creese

Creese, Crease, krēs, n. a Malay dagger with a wavy blade—also Kris.—v.t. to stab with a creese.

English · e-37683-6389 · brief source record

Creesh

Creesh, krēsh, v.t. (Scot.) to grease.—n. grease.—adj. Creesh′y. [O. Fr. craisse—L. crassus, fat.]

English · e-37683-6390 · brief source record

Cremaillere

Cremaillere, kre-mal-yār′, n. a line of fortification built zigzag to give wider range in firing. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6391 · brief source record

Cremation

Cremation, krem-ā′shun, n. act of burning, esp. of the dead.—v.t. Cremate′.—ns. Cremā′tionist, one who advocates cremation; Cremat′or, Crematōr′ium, Crem′atory, a place where cremation is done.—adj. Crematōr′ial. [L.,—cr

English · e-37683-6392

Cremona

Cremona, krem-ō′na, n. a superior kind of violin made at Cremona in Italy.—adj. Cremonese′.

English · e-37683-6393 · brief source record

Cremor

Cremor, krē′mor, n. thick juice.

English · e-37683-6394 · brief source record

Cremosin

Cremosin, krem′ō-zin, n. crimson (Spens.).

English · e-37683-6395 · brief source record

Crenate

Crenate, -d, krē′nāt, -ed, adj. (bot.) having the edge notched.—ns. Crē′na, a furrow or notch; Crenā′tion; Cren′ature.—adjs. Cren′ulate, -d, finely notched or crenate. [L. crena, a notch.]

English · e-37683-6396

Crenel

Crenel, kren′el, Crenelle, kre-nel′, n. (archit.) an opening in a parapet for shooting through: a battlement—dim. Cren′elet.—n. Crenaux (krē′nō), crenellations or loopholes in a fortress.—v.t. Cren′ellate.—adjs. Crenellā

English · e-37683-6397

Creole

Creole, krē′ōl, n. and adj. strictly applied in the former Spanish, French, and Portuguese colonies of America, Africa, and the East Indies to natives of pure European blood (sangre azul), in opposition to immigrants the

English · e-37683-6398

Creophagous

Creophagous, krē-of′a-gus, adj. flesh-eating. [Gr. kreas, flesh, phagein, to eat.]

English · e-37683-6399 · brief source record

Creosote

Creosote, krē′o-sōt, Creasote, krē′a-sōt, n. an oily, colourless liquid obtained from the tar produced by the destructive distillation of wood. [Gr. kreas, flesh, sōtēr, saviour—sōz-ein, to save.]

English · e-37683-6400

Crepance

Crepance, krē′pans, n. a wound on a horse's hind ankle-joint, caused by striking with the shoe of the other hind-foot.—Also Crē′pane. [L. crepāre, to break.]

English · e-37683-6401

Crêpe

Crêpe, krāp, v.t. to frizz, as hair. [See Crape.]

English · e-37683-6402 · brief source record

Crepitate

Crepitate, krep′i-tāt, v.i. to crackle, snap.—adj. Crep′itant, crackling.—n. Crepitā′tion, the characteristic sound detected in the lungs by auscultation.—adj. Crep′itātive.—n. Crep′itus. [L. crepitāre, -ātum, freq. of c

English · e-37683-6403

Crepon

Crepon, krep′on, n. a woollen or silk crapy stuff. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6404 · brief source record

Crept

Crept, krept, pa.t. and pa.p. of Creep.

English · e-37683-6405 · brief source record

Crepuscular

Crepuscular, kre-pus′kū-lar, adj. of or pertaining to twilight—also Crepus′culous.—ns. Crepus′cule, Crepus′cle, twilight. [L. crepusculum—creper, dusky, obscure.]

English · e-37683-6406

Crescendo

Crescendo, kres-en′dō, adv. (mus.) gradually increasing in force or loudness.—n. a passage marked by this.—Often cres., cresc., or [Image: Crescendo symbol] .

English · e-37683-6407

Crescent

Crescent, kres′ent, adj. increasing: shaped like the new or old moon.—n. the moon as she increases towards half-moon: a figure like the crescent moon, as that on the Turkish standard: the standard itself: the Turkish pow

English · e-37683-6408

Cress

Cress, kres, n. the name of several species of plants like the water-cress, which grow in moist places, and have pungent leaves used as salads and medicinally.—adj. Cress′y, abounding in cresses. [A.S. cresse, cerse; cf.

English · e-37683-6409

Cresset

Cresset, kres′et, n. an iron basket, jar, or open lamp filled with combustible material, placed on a beacon, lighthouse, wharf, &c.: a torch generally. [O. Fr. cresset, crasset (Fr. creuset)—Old Dut. kruysel, a hanging l

English · e-37683-6410

Crest

Crest, krest, n. the comb or tuft on the head of a cock and other birds: the summit of anything, as a roof-ridge, hill, wave: the mane of a horse, &c.: (anat.) a ridge along the surface of a bone: a plume of feathers or

English · e-37683-6411

Cretaceous

Cretaceous, krē-tā′shus, adj. composed of or like chalk.—adj. Crē′tāted, rubbed with chalk.—n. Cretifac′tion.—v.i. Crē′tify, to become impregnated with salts of lime. [L. cretaceus, from creta, chalk.]

English · e-37683-6412

Cretic

Cretic, krē′tik, adj. and n. Cretan, belonging to Crete: a metrical foot consisting of one short syllable between two long.—n. Crē′tism, a lie.

English · e-37683-6413

Cretinism

Cretinism, krē′tin-izm, n. a state of defective mental development, associated with bodily deformity or arrested growth, occurring esp. in connection with enlargement of the thyroid gland or goitre in the lower Alpine va

English · e-37683-6414

Cretonne

Cretonne, kret-on′, or kret′on, n. a strong printed cotton fabric used for curtains or for covering furniture. [Fr., prob. from Creton in Normandy.]

English · e-37683-6415

Cretose

Cretose, krē′tōs, adj. chalky.

English · e-37683-6416 · brief source record

Creutzer

Creutzer. Same as Kreutzer.

English · e-37683-6417 · brief source record

Creux

Creux, krė, n. the reverse of relief in sculpture, intaglio. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6418 · brief source record

Crevasse

Crevasse, krev-as′, n. a crack or split, esp. applied to a cleft in a glacier: (U.S.) a breach in a canal or river bank.—v.t. to fissure with crevasses. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6419

Crevet

Crevet, krev′et, n. a variant of Cruet, a goldsmith's melting-pot.

English · e-37683-6420 · brief source record

Crevice

Crevice, krev′is, n. a crack or rent: a narrow opening. [O. Fr. crevace—L. L.,—L. crepāre, to creak.]

English · e-37683-6421 · brief source record

Crew

Crew, krōō, n. a company, squad, or gang, often in a bad or contemptuous sense: a ship's company. [O. Fr. creue, increase—croistre, to grow.]

English · e-37683-6422

Crew

Crew, krōō, pa.t. of Crow.

English · e-37683-6423 · brief source record

Crewe

Crewe, krōō, n. (Spens.) a cruse. [O. Fr. crue.]

English · e-37683-6424 · brief source record

Crewel

Crewel, krōō′el, n. a fine worsted yarn used for embroidery and tapestry: work in crewels.—v.t. to work in such.—ns. Crew′elist; Crew′ellery. [Orig. a monosyllable, crule, crewle; ety. dub.]

English · e-37683-6425

Crewels

Crewels, krōō′elz, n.pl. (Scot.) the king's evil, scrofula. [Fr. ēcrouelles.]

English · e-37683-6426 · brief source record

Crib

Crib, krib, n. the rack or manger of a stable: a stall for oxen: a child's bed; a small cottage or hovel, a confined place: (coll.) a translation of a classic baldly literal, for lazy schoolboys.—v.t. to put away in a cr

English · e-37683-6427

Cribbage

Cribbage, krib′āj, n. a game at cards played by two, three, or four persons, so called from crib, the name given to certain cards laid aside from his hand by each player, and which belong to the dealer.—n. Cribb′age-boar

English · e-37683-6428

Cribble

Cribble, krib′l, n. a coarse screen or sieve used for sand, gravel, or corn: coarse flour or meal.—v.t. to sift or riddle.—adjs. Crib′rāte, Crib′rose, perforated like a sieve.—n. Cribrā′tion, act of sifting.—adj. Crib′ri

English · e-37683-6429

Cribellum

Cribellum, kri-bel′um, n. an accessory spinning-organ of certain spiders—also Cribrell′um:—pl. Cribell′a.

English · e-37683-6430 · brief source record

Criblé

Criblé, krē-blā, adj. punctured like a sieve, dotted. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6431 · brief source record

Cricetus

Cricetus, kri-sē′tus, n. the typical genus of Cricetinæ, a sub-family of muroid rodents with cheek-pouches.

English · e-37683-6432 · brief source record

Crick

Crick, krik, n. a spasm or cramp of the muscles, esp. of the neck. [Prob. onomatopœic.]

English · e-37683-6433 · brief source record

Cricket

Cricket, krik′et, n. a saltatory, orthopterous insect, allied to grasshoppers and locusts. [O. Fr. criquet; cf. Dut. krekel, Ger. kreckel.]

English · e-37683-6434

Cricket

Cricket, krik′et, n. an outdoor game played with bats, a ball, and wickets, between two sides of eleven each.—v.i. to play at cricket.—ns. Crick′eter, one who plays at cricket; Crick′et-match, a match at cricket. [Fr. cr

English · e-37683-6435

Cricket

Cricket, krik′et, n. (Scot.) a low stool.

English · e-37683-6436 · brief source record

Cricoid

Cricoid, krī′koid, adj. (anat.) ring-shaped. [Gr. krikos, a ring, and eidos, form.]

English · e-37683-6437 · brief source record

Cried

Cried, krīd, pa.t. and pa.p. of Cry.—n. Crī′er, one who cries or proclaims, esp. an officer whose duty is to make public proclamations.—Cried down, or Decried, denounced, belittled; Cried up, extolled.

English · e-37683-6438

Crime

Crime, krīm, n. a violation of law: an act punishable by law: offence: sin.—adjs. Crime′ful, criminal; Crime′less, without crime, innocent; Criminal (krim′-), relating to crime: guilty of crime: violating laws.—n. one gu

English · e-37683-6439

Crimine

Crimine, Crimini, krim′i-ne, interj. an ejaculation of surprise or impatience.

English · e-37683-6440 · brief source record

Crimp

Crimp, krimp, adj. made crisp or brittle.—v.t. to wrinkle: to plait: to make crisp: to seize or decoy sailors or soldiers.—n. one who presses or decoys.—ns. Crimp′age, act of crimping; Crimp′er, one who or that which cri

English · e-37683-6441

Crimson

Crimson, krim′zn, n. a deep red colour, tinged with blue: red in general.—adj. deep red.—v.t. to dye crimson.—v.i. to become crimson: to blush. [M. E. crimosin—O. Fr. cramoisin; from Ar. qermazi, the cochineal insect, fr

English · e-37683-6442

Crinal

Crinal, krī′nal, adj. of or belonging to the hair.—adjs. Crin′ate, -d, having hair; Crinicul′tural, relating to the culture or growth of the hair; Crinig′erous, hairy; Crī′nite, hairy: (bot.) resembling a tuft of hair. [

English · e-37683-6443

Crine

Crine, krīn, v.i. (Scot.) to shrink or shrivel. [Gael. crìon, dry.]

English · e-37683-6444 · brief source record

Cringe

Cringe, krinj, v.i. to bend or crouch with servility: to submit: to fawn: to flatter with mean servility.—n. a servile obeisance.—ns. Cringe′ling, Crin′ger, one who cringes.—adv. Crin′gingly, in an obsequious manner. [Re

English · e-37683-6445

Cringle

Cringle, kring′gl, n. a small piece of rope worked into the bolt-rope of a sail, and containing a metal ring or thimble. [Teut.; cf. Ger. kringel.]

English · e-37683-6446

Crinite

Crinite. See Crinal, Crinoidea.

English · e-37683-6447 · brief source record

Crinkle

Crinkle, krink′l, v.t. to twist, wrinkle, crimp.—v.i. to wrinkle up, curl.—n. a wrinkle.—adj. Crink′ly, wrinkly.—n. and adj. Crink′um-crank′um, a word applied familiarly to things intricate or crooked.

English · e-37683-6448

Crinoidea

Crinoidea, krī-noid′ē-a, n.pl. a class of Echinodermata, sometimes called feather-stars or sea-lilies, and well known in fossil forms as encrinites or stone-lilies.—n. Cri′nite, a fossil crinoid.—adjs. and ns. Crinoid′,

English · e-37683-6449

Crinoline

Crinoline, krin′o-lin, n. a name originally given by the French modistes to a stiff fabric of horse-hair, employed to distend women's attire: a hooped petticoat or skirt made to project all round by means of steel-wire:

English · e-37683-6450

Crinose

Crinose, krī′nōs, adj. hairy. [L. crinis, hair.]

English · e-37683-6451 · brief source record

Crio-sphinx

Crio-sphinx, krī′ō-sfingks, n. a ram-headed sphinx. [Gr. krios, a ram, sphingx, a sphinx.]

English · e-37683-6452 · brief source record

Cripple

Cripple, krip′l, n. a lame person.—adj. lame.—v.t. to make lame: to lame: disable, impair the efficiency of.—ns. Cripp′ledom; Cripp′ling, a prop set up as a support against the side of a building. [A.S. crypel; conn. wit

English · e-37683-6453

Crisis

Crisis, krī′sis, n. point or time for deciding anything, the decisive moment or turning-point:—pl. Crises (krī′sēz). [Gr. krisis, from krinein, to separate.]

English · e-37683-6454

Crisp

Crisp, krisp, adj. curling closely: having a wavy surface: so dry as to be crumbled easily: brittle, or short, as 'crisp cakes,' &c.: fresh and bracing, as 'crisp air:' firm, the opposite of limp or flabby, as a 'crisp s

English · e-37683-6455

Crispin

Crispin, kris′pin, n. a shoemaker, from Crispin of Soissons, the patron saint of shoemakers, martyred 25th October 287.

English · e-37683-6456 · brief source record

Criss-cross

Criss-cross, kris′-kros, n. a mark formed by two lines in the form of a cross, as the signature of a person unable to write his name: a child's game played on a slate, the lines being drawn in the form of a cross.—v.i. t

English · e-37683-6457

Cristate

Cristate, kris′tāt, adj. crested.—n. Cris′ta, a crest.—adjs. Cris′tiform; Cristim′anous, having crested claws.

English · e-37683-6458 · brief source record

Criterion

Criterion, krī-tē′ri-on, n. a means or standard of judging: a test: a rule, standard, or canon:—pl. Critē′ria. [Gr., from kritēs, a judge.]

English · e-37683-6459

Crith

Crith, krith, n. a chemical unit of mass for gases, the mass of one litre of hydrogen. [Gr. krithē, barley.]

English · e-37683-6460 · brief source record

Crithomancy

Crithomancy, krith′o-man-si, n. divination by the meal strewed over the victims of sacrifice. [Gr. krithē, barley, and manteia, divination.]

English · e-37683-6461

Critic

Critic, krit′ik, n. one skilled in estimating the quality of literary or artistic work: a professional reviewer: one skilled in textual or biblical criticism, literature, the fine arts, &c.: a fault-finder.—adj. Crit′ica

English · e-37683-6462

Croak

Croak, krōk, v.i. to utter a low hoarse sound, as a frog or raven: to grumble: to forebode evil: to utter croakingly: (slang) to die.—n. the sound of a frog or raven.—n. Croak′er.—adv. Croak′ily.—n. Croak′ing.—adj. Croak

English · e-37683-6463

Croat

Croat, krō′at, n. a native of Croatia, esp. one serving as a soldier in the Austrian army.

English · e-37683-6464 · brief source record

Croceous

Croceous, krō′shi-us, adj. saffron-coloured.

English · e-37683-6465 · brief source record

Croche

Croche, krō′she, n. one of the buds or knobs at the top of a deer's horn. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6466 · brief source record

Crochet

Crochet, krō′shā, n. a kind of handiwork in fancy worsted, cotton, or silk—an extensive system of looping, by means of a small hook.—v.i. to do such work. [Fr. crochet—croche, croc, a hook.]

English · e-37683-6467

Crocidolite

Crocidolite, kro-sid′o-līt, n. a mineral consisting mainly of silicate of iron, in asbestos-like fibres. [From Gr. krokis, -idos, cloth, and lithos, stone.]

English · e-37683-6468

Crock

Crock, krok, n. a pot or jar.—n. Crock′ery, earthenware: vessels formed of baked clay. [A.S. croc; Ger. krug; perh. of Celt. origin, as in W. crochan, a pot, Gael. krogan, a pitcher.]

English · e-37683-6469

Crock

Crock, krok, n. dirt, smut.—v.i. to dirty.

English · e-37683-6470 · brief source record

Crock

Crock, krok, n. an old ewe: an old horse. [Cf. Norw. and Sw. krake, a poor beast.]

English · e-37683-6471 · brief source record

Crocket

Crocket, krok′et, n. (archit.) an ornament on the angles of spires, canopies, &c., like curled leaves or flowers.

English · e-37683-6472 · brief source record

Crocodile

Crocodile, krok′o-dīl, n. a genus of large amphibious saurian reptiles, including the crocodile of the Nile, and also the alligators and gavials.—adj. and n. Crocodil′ian.—n. Crocodil′ity, captious arguing.—Crocodile tea

English · e-37683-6473

Crocus

Crocus, krō′kus, n. a bulbous plant with brilliant yellow or purple flowers: (slang) a quack doctor. [L. crocus—Gr. krokos; prob. of Eastern origin, as Heb. karkom, and Ar. kurkum, saffron.]

English · e-37683-6474

Croft

Croft, kroft, n. a small piece arable land adjoining a dwelling: a kind of small farm.—ns. Croft′er; Croft′ing. [A.S. croft; perh. cog. with Dut. kroft, or with Gael. croit.]

English · e-37683-6475

Croissant

Croissant. Same as Crescent.

English · e-37683-6476 · brief source record

Croma

Croma, krō′ma, n. (mus.) an eighth note, or quaver.—Also Crome.

English · e-37683-6477 · brief source record

Crome

Crome, krōm, Cromb, krōōm, n. a hook or crook.—v.t. to draw with such. [Cf. Dut. kram.]

English · e-37683-6478 · brief source record

Cromlech

Cromlech, krom′lek, n. a term applied in Brittany to a group of standing stones, a stone circle: formerly applied to a dolmen, with which it is still sometimes confounded in England (see Dolmen). [W. cromlech—crom, curve

English · e-37683-6479

Cromorna

Cromorna, krō-mor′na, n. a clarinet-like reed-stop in an organ. [Fr.,—Ger. krummhorn.]

English · e-37683-6480 · brief source record

Crone

Crone, krōn, n. an old woman, usually in contempt—sometimes an old man. [Perh. O. Fr. carogne, a crabbed woman; or Celt., as in Ir. crion, withered.]

English · e-37683-6481

Cronet

Cronet, krō′net, n. the hair growing over the top of a horse's hoof.

English · e-37683-6482 · brief source record

Crony

Crony, krōn′i, n. an old and intimate companion. [Ety. unknown.]

English · e-37683-6483 · brief source record

Croodle

Croodle, krōōd′l, v.i. to cower down, or cling close to anything. [Prob. related to Cuddle.]

English · e-37683-6484 · brief source record

Croodle

Croodle, krōōd′l, v.i. (Scot.), to coo like a dove, to coax.

English · e-37683-6485 · brief source record

Crook

Crook, krōōk, n. a bend, anything bent: a curved tube used to lower the pitch of a cornet, &c.: the bending of the body in reverence: a staff bent at the end, as a shepherd's or bishop's: an artifice or trick: (Spens.) g

English · e-37683-6486

Crool

Crool, krool, v.i. to mutter. [Imit.]

English · e-37683-6487 · brief source record

Croon

Croon, krōōn, v.t. (Scot.) to utter a low, monotonous, inarticulate sound like a baby: to sing or hum in an undertone.—n. Croon′ing, a low murmuring sound. [Cf. Dut. kreunen, to groan.]

English · e-37683-6488

Crop

Crop, krop, n. all the produce of a field of grain: anything gathered or cropped: an entire ox-hide: the craw of a bird: (archit.) a finial: a whip-handle: the cutting the hair short.—v.t. to cut off the top or ends: to

English · e-37683-6489

Cropper

Cropper, krop′ėr, n. a fall; failure.—Come a cropper, to have a fall, perhaps from phrase 'neck and crop.'

English · e-37683-6490 · brief source record

Croquet

Croquet, krō′kā, n. a game in which two or more players try to drive wooden balls, by means of long-handled mallets, through a series of arches set in the ground. [North Fr. croquet, a dial. form of crochet, dim. of croc

English · e-37683-6491

Croquette

Croquette, krok-et′, n. a ball of minced meat or fish, seasoned and fried. [Fr. croquer, to crunch.]

English · e-37683-6492 · brief source record

Crore

Crore, krōr, n. the sum of ten millions, or one hundred lacs. [Hind.]

English · e-37683-6493 · brief source record

Crosier

Crosier, Crozier, krō′zhėr, n. a cross mounted on a staff, borne before archbishops and patriarchs—often confounded with the pastoral staff.—adj. Crō′siered. [O. Fr. crocier—Late L. crociarius—L. crux, a cross.]

English · e-37683-6494

Cross

Cross, kros, n. a gibbet on which malefactors were hung, consisting of two pieces of timber, one placed crosswise on the other, either thus [Image: Latin cross] or [Image: St Andrew's cross] : the instrument on which Chr

English · e-37683-6495

Cross

Cross, kros, adj. lying across: transverse: oblique: opposite: adverse: ill-tempered: interchanged: dishonest: balancing, neutralising.—adv. across.—n. a crossing or mixing of breeds, esp. of cattle: something intermedia

English · e-37683-6496

Crosse

Crosse, kros, n. the implement used in lacrosse.

English · e-37683-6497 · brief source record

Crossette

Crossette, kro-set′, n. a small projecting part of an impost-stone at the extremity of an arch: a shoulder in an arch-stone fitting into the stone next to it. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6498

Crotalaria

Crotalaria, krō-ta-lā′ri-a, n. a genus of Leguminosæ, the rattlewort. [Gr. krotalon, a rattle.]

English · e-37683-6499 · brief source record

Crotalidæ

Crotalidæ, krō-tal′i-dē, n.pl. a family of venomous serpents, including rattlesnakes, copper-heads, &c.

English · e-37683-6500 · brief source record

Crotalo

Crotalo, krō′ta-lō, n. a Turkish musical instrument, like the ancient cymbalum.

English · e-37683-6501 · brief source record

Crotch

Crotch, kroch, n. a fork, as of a tree: the bifurcation of the human body.—adj. Crotched. [Ety. obscure.]

English · e-37683-6502 · brief source record

Crotchet

Crotchet, kroch′et, n. a hook: a note in music, equal to half a minim, [Image: Crotchet] : a crooked or perverse fancy: a whim, or conceit.—adjs. Crotch′eted, Crotch′ety, having crotchets or peculiarities: whimsical.—n.

English · e-37683-6503

Croton

Croton, krō′ton, n. a genus of tropical plants, producing a brownish-yellow oil, having a hot, biting taste.—ns. Crō′tonate, a salt formed by the union of crotonic acid with a base; Crō′ton-oil, a powerful purgative oil,

English · e-37683-6504

Crottles

Crottles, krot′ls, n.pl. lichens used for dyeing. [Gael. crotal.]

English · e-37683-6505 · brief source record

Crouch

Crouch, krowch, v.i. to squat or lie close to the ground: to cringe: to fawn. [Possibly crook.]

English · e-37683-6506 · brief source record

Crouch-ware

Crouch-ware, krowch′-wār, n. a finely finished pottery made with an admixture of pipe-clay in Shropshire: the famous salt-glazed stoneware made at Burslem.

English · e-37683-6508

Crouched-friars

Crouched-friars = Crutched-friars. See Crutch.

English · e-37683-6507 · brief source record

Croup

Croup, krōōp, n. a severe disease in the throat of children, accompanied by a hoarse cough.—v.i. to cry or speak hoarsely.—n. Croup′iness.—adjs. Croup′ous, Croup′y. [A.S. kropan, to cry; Scot. roup, croup, hoarseness; fr

English · e-37683-6509

Croup

Croup, krōōp, n. the rump of a horse: the place behind the saddle.—n. Croup′on (obs.), the croup: the human buttocks. [Fr. croupe, a protuberance; allied to Crop.]

English · e-37683-6510

Croupade

Croupade, kroo-pād′, n. in the manège, a leap in which the horse draws up his hind-legs toward the belly. [Fr.]

English · e-37683-6511 · brief source record

Crouper

Crouper, krōōp′ėr, n. obsolete form of Crupper.

English · e-37683-6512 · brief source record

Croupier

Croupier, krōō′pi-ėr, n. one who sits at the lower end of the table as assistant-chairman at a public dinner: a vice-president: he who watches the cards and collects the money at the gaming-table. [Fr., 'one who rides on

English · e-37683-6513

Crouse

Crouse, krōōs, adj. (Scot.) lively, pert.—adv. boldly, pertly.—adv. Crouse′ly. [M. E. crūs; cf. Ger. kraus, Dut. kroes, crisp, cross.]

English · e-37683-6514

Crout

Crout, krowt, n. See Sauer-kraut.

English · e-37683-6515 · brief source record

Crow

Crow, krō, n. a large bird, generally black, of the genus Corvus, which includes magpies, nut-crackers, jays, choughs, &c.: the cry of a cock: a crow-bar.—v.i. to croak: to cry as a cock, in joy or defiance: to boast, sw

English · e-37683-6516

Crowd

Crowd, krowd, n. a number of persons or things closely pressed together, without order: the rabble: multitude.—v.t. to gather into a lump or crowd: to fill by pressing or driving together: to compress.—v.i. to press on:

English · e-37683-6517

Crowd

Crowd, krowd, n. (obs.) an ancient musical instrument of the nature of the violin.—n. Crowd′er (obs.), a fiddler. [W. crwth, a hollow protuberance, a fiddle; Gael., Ir. cruit.]

English · e-37683-6518

Crowdie

Crowdie, krowd′i, n. a mixture of meal and water: (Scot.) brose. [Der. unknown.]

English · e-37683-6519 · brief source record

Crown

Crown, krown, n. the diadem or state-cap of royalty: regal power: the sovereign: honour: reward, as the 'martyr's crown:' the top of anything, esp. of the head: completion: accomplishment; a coin stamped with a crown, es

English · e-37683-6520

Croze

Croze, krōz, n. the groove in the staves of a cask in which the edge of the head is set.

English · e-37683-6521 · brief source record

Crozier

Crozier. See Crosier.

English · e-37683-6522 · brief source record

Crucial

Crucial, krōō′shi-al, adj. testing, searching, from the practice of marking a testing instance with a cross to draw attention to it.—adj. Cru′ciāte (bot.), arranged in the form of a cross, as leaves or petals. [Fr. cruci

English · e-37683-6523

Crucian

Crucian, Crusian, kroo′shi-an, n. the German carp, having no barbels.

English · e-37683-6524 · brief source record

Crucible

Crucible, krōō′si-bl, n. an earthen pot for melting ores, metals, &c. [Low L. crucibulum, most prob. from L. crux.]

English · e-37683-6525 · brief source record

Cruciferæ

Cruciferæ, kroo-sif′ėr-ē, n. a natural order of exogenous plants (many edible), having a corolla of four petals arranged in the form of a cross.—n. Cruc′ifer, a cross-bearer in a procession.—adj. Crucif′erous (bot.), bea

English · e-37683-6526

Crucify

Crucify, krōō′si-fī, v.t. to put to death by fixing the hands and feet to a cross: to subdue completely: to mortify: to torment:—pa.p. cru′cified.—ns. Crucifī′er, one who crucifies; Cru′cifix, a figure or picture of Chri

English · e-37683-6527

Crude

Crude, krōōd, adj. raw, unprepared: not reduced to order or form: unfinished: undigested: immature.—adv. Crude′ly.—ns. Crude′ness; Crud′ity, rawness: unripeness: that which is crude.—adj. Crud′y (Shak.), crude, raw. [L.

English · e-37683-6528

Cruel

Cruel, krōō′el, adj. disposed to inflict pain, or pleased at suffering: void of pity, merciless, savage: severe.—adj. Cru′el-heart′ed, delighting in cruelty: hard-hearted: unrelenting.—adv. Cru′elly.—ns. Cru′elness (obs.

English · e-37683-6529

Cruet

Cruet, krōō′et, n. a small jar or phial for sauces and condiments.—n. Cru′et-stand, a stand or frame for holding cruets. [Acc. to Skeat, prob. formed from Dut. kruik, a jar = Eng. crock; and acc. to E. Müller, dim. of O.

English · e-37683-6530

Cruise

Cruise, krōōz, v.i. to sail to and fro: to rove on the sea.—n. a sailing to and fro: a voyage in various directions in search of an enemy, or for the protection of vessels.—n. Cruis′er. [Dut. kruisen, to cross—kruis, a c

English · e-37683-6531

Cruisie

Cruisie. See Crusie.

English · e-37683-6532 · brief source record

Cruisken

Cruisken, kroos′ken, n. (Ir.) a small bottle.—Also Cruis′keen.

English · e-37683-6533 · brief source record

Cruive

Cruive, Cruve, krōōv, n. (Scot.) a sty, hovel: a wattled hedge built on tidal flats for catching fish.

English · e-37683-6534 · brief source record

Cruller

Cruller, krul′ėr, n. a cake cut from rolled dough made of eggs, butter, sugar, flour, &c., fried crisp in boiling lard. [Cf. Dut. krullen, to curl.]

English · e-37683-6535

Crumb

Crumb, krum, n. a small bit or morsel of bread: a small particle of anything: the soft part of bread.—v.t. to break into crumbs: to fill with crumbs.—ns. Crumb′-brush, a brush for sweeping crumbs off the table; Crumb′-cl

English · e-37683-6536

Crumble

Crumble, krum′bl, v.t. to break into crumbs: to scatter in crumbs.—v.i. to fall into small pieces: to decay.—n. a crumb: that which crumbles easily.—adj. Crumb′ly, apt to crumble, brittle. [Orig. dim. of Crumb; Dut. krui

English · e-37683-6537

Crumenal

Crumenal, krōō′me-nal, n. (Spens.) a purse. [From L. crumena, a purse.]

English · e-37683-6538 · brief source record

Crump

Crump, krump, adj. crooked: wrinkled.—ns. Crum′my, a cow with a crumpled horn; Crump′et, a kind of crumby or soft cake or muffin.—adj. Crump′y, crump: easily broken. [A.S. crump—crumb, crooked; Ger. krumm. Cf. Cramp, Cri

English · e-37683-6539

Crumple

Crumple, krump′l, v.t. to contort: to mark with or draw into folds or wrinkles: to crease.—v.i. to become wrinkled: to contract or shrink.—adj. Crump′led.—n. Crump′ling. [Formed from Crump.]

English · e-37683-6540

Crunch

Crunch, krunsh, v.t. to crush with the teeth: to chew anything hard, and so make a noise.—n. the act of crunching. [From the sound; cf. Fr. grincer.]

English · e-37683-6541

Crunkle

Crunkle, krunk′l, v.i. to crumple.

English · e-37683-6542 · brief source record

Crunt

Crunt, krunt, n. (Scot.) a blow on the head.

English · e-37683-6543 · brief source record

Cruor

Cruor, krōō′or, n. coagulated blood.—n. Cru′orine, the red colouring matter of blood corpuscles.

English · e-37683-6544 · brief source record

Crup

Crup, krup, adj. (prov.) brittle.

English · e-37683-6545 · brief source record

Crupper

Crupper, krup′ėr, n. a strap of leather fastened to the saddle and passing under the horse's tail to keep the saddle in its place: the hind part of a horse. [Fr. cropière—crope, the croup.]

English · e-37683-6546

Crural

Crural, krōō′ral, adj. belonging to or shaped like a leg. [L. cruralis, from crus, cruris, the leg.]

English · e-37683-6547 · brief source record

Crusade

Crusade, kroo-sād′, n. a military expedition under the banner of the cross to recover the Holy Land from the Turks: any daring or romantic undertaking.—v.i. to go on a crusade.—n. Crusad′er, one engaged in a crusade. [Fr

English · e-37683-6548

Crusado

Crusado, kroo-sā′do, n. a Portuguese coin, so called because marked with a cross. [Port. cruzado.]

English · e-37683-6549 · brief source record

Cruse

Cruse, krōōz, n. an earthen pot: a small cup or bottle. [Cf. Ice. krus; Dan. kruus; Ger. krause.]

English · e-37683-6550 · brief source record

Cruset

Cruset, krōō′set, n. a goldsmith's crucible. [Fr. creuset.]

English · e-37683-6551 · brief source record

Crush

Crush, krush, v.t. to break or bruise: to squeeze together: to beat down or overwhelm: to subdue: to ruin.—v.i. to become broken under pressure.—n. a violet squeezing: a vast crowd of persons or things.—adj. Crushed, bro

English · e-37683-6552

Crusie

Crusie, Crusy, krōōz′i, n. (Scot.) a lamp which burns oil. [From Cruset.]

English · e-37683-6553 · brief source record

Crust

Crust, krust, n. the hard rind or outside coating of anything: the outer part of bread: covering of a pie, &c.: (geol.) the solid exterior of the earth.—v.t. to cover with a crust or hard case.—v.i. to gather into a hard

English · e-37683-6554

Crusta

Crusta, krus′ta, n. something, as a gem, prepared for inlaying: a hard coating: a cocktail served in a glass, its rim encrusted in sugar:—pl. Crustæ (ē).

English · e-37683-6555

Crustacea

Crustacea, krus-tā′shi-a, n.pl. a large class of Arthropod animals, almost all aquatic, including crabs, lobsters, shrimps, sand-hoppers, wood-lice, water-fleas, barnacles, acorn-shells, &c.—n. Crustā′cean, one of the cr

English · e-37683-6556

Crut

Crut, krut, n. (prov.) a dwarf.

English · e-37683-6557 · brief source record

Crutch

Crutch, kruch, n. a staff with a cross-piece at the head to place under the arm of a lame person: any support like a crutch.—v.t. to support: to prop.—v.i. to go on crutches.—adj. Crutched, marked by the sign of or weari

English · e-37683-6558

Crux

Crux, kruks, n. a cross: (fig.) something that occasions difficulty. [L. crux, a cross.]

English · e-37683-6559 · brief source record

Crwth

Crwth, kröth, n. an old Welsh stringed instrument, four of its six strings played with a bow, two twitched by the thumb. [W.]

English · e-37683-6560

Cry

Cry, krī, v.i. to utter a shrill loud sound, esp. one expressive of pain or grief: to lament: to weep: to bawl.—v.t. to utter loudly: to proclaim or make public:—pa.t. and pa.p. cried.—n. any loud sound, esp. of grief or

English · e-37683-6561

Cryolite

Cryolite, krī′o-līt, n. a mineral found on the coast of Greenland, consisting mainly of a fluoride of aluminium in combination with fluoride of sodium. [Gr. kryos, frost, and lithos, a stone.]

English · e-37683-6562

Cryophorus

Cryophorus, krī-of′o-rus, n. an instrument for showing the decrease of temperature in water by evaporation. [Gr. kryos, frost, and pherein, to bear.]

English · e-37683-6563

Crypt

Crypt, kript, n. an underground cell or chapel, esp. one used for burial.—adjs. Cryp′tic, -al, hidden: secret: unseen. [L. crypta—Gr. kryptē—kryptein, to conceal. Doublet of Grot.]

English · e-37683-6564

Cryptogamia

Cryptogamia, krip-to-gā′mi-a, n. the class of flowerless plants, or those which have their fructification concealed.—n. Cryp′togam.—adjs. Cryptogā′mian, Cryptogam′ic, Cryptog′amous.—ns. Cryptog′amist; Cryptog′amy. [Gr. k

English · e-37683-6565

Cryptogram

Cryptogram, krip′tō-gram, n. a cryptograph.—ns. Cryptad′ia, things to be kept secret; Cryptol′ogy, secret language; Cryp′tonym, a secret name.

English · e-37683-6566

Cryptography

Cryptography, krip-tog′ra-fi, n. the art of secret writing: the character or cipher so used.—ns. Crypt′ograph; Cryptog′rapher.—adjs. Cryptograph′ic, -al. [Gr. kryptos, secret, and graphein, to write.]

English · e-37683-6567

Crystal

Crystal, kris′tal, n. a superior kind of quartz, clear like ice: (chem.) a piece of matter which has assumed a definite geometrical form, with plane faces.—adjs. Crys′tal, Crys′tallīne, consisting of or like crystal in c

English · e-37683-6568

Ctenoid

Ctenoid, tē′noid, adj. comb-shaped, applied by Agassiz to the scales and fins of certain fishes, as the perch, &c.—adj. and n. Ctenoid′ean. [Gr. kteis, ktenos, a comb, eidos, form.]

English · e-37683-6569

Ctenophora

Ctenophora, ten-of′o-ra, n.pl. a sub-class of Cœlenterates—beautifully delicate, free-swimming marine organisms, generally globular, moving by means of comb-like plates. [Gr. kteis, ktenos, a comb, pherein, to carry.]

English · e-37683-6570

Cub

Cub, kub, n. the young of certain animals, as foxes, &c.: a whelp: a young boy or girl (in contempt).—v.i. to bring forth young:—pr.p. cub′bing; pa.p. cubbed.—adjs. Cub′bish, like a cub: awkward; Cub′-drawn (Shak.), draw

English · e-37683-6571

Cub

Cub, kub, n. a cattle-pen: chest.

English · e-37683-6572 · brief source record

Cuban

Cuban, kū′ban, n. a native of the island of Cuba in the West Indies.—adj. pertaining to Cuba.

English · e-37683-6573 · brief source record

Cube

Cube, kūb, n. a solid body having six equal square faces, a solid square: the third power of a number, as—2 × 2 × 2 = 8.—v.t. to raise to the third power.—ns. Cū′bage, Cubā′tion, Cū′bature, the act of finding the solid o

English · e-37683-6574

Cubeb

Cubeb, kū′beb, n. the dried berry of Piper cubeba, a climbing shrub, native to Sumatra—useful as a stomachic and carminative in indigestion, for piles and for sore throats.—n. Cubeb′in, a crystallising substance in cubeb

English · e-37683-6575

Cubica

Cubica, kū′bi-ka, n. a fine worsted for linings.

English · e-37683-6576 · brief source record

Cubicle

Cubicle, kū′bi-kl, n. a bedroom.

English · e-37683-6577 · brief source record

Cubit

Cubit, kū′bit, n. a measure employed by the ancients, equal to the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle-finger, from 18 to 22 inches—also Cū′bitus.—adj. Cū′bital, of the length of a cubit. [L. cubitu

English · e-37683-6578

Cucking-stool

Cucking-stool, kuk′ing-stōōl, n. a stool in which scolds and other culprits were placed, usually before their own door, to be pelted by the mob. [Mentioned in Domesday Book as in use in Chester, and called cathedra sterc

English · e-37683-6579

Cuckold

Cuckold, kuk′old, n. a man whose wife has proved unfaithful.—v.t. to wrong (a husband) by unchastity.—v.t. Cuck′oldise, to make a cuckold.—adv. Cuck′oldly (Shak.).—ns. Cuck′old-mak′er; Cuck′oldom, state of a cuckold: act

English · e-37683-6580

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