Chapter CIV: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (13)

COVING Cov"ing, n. (Arch.) (a) A cove or series of coves, as the concaved surface under the overhang of a projecting upper story. (b) The splayed jambs of a flaring fireplace.

COVINOUS Cov"in*ous (kv"n-s), a. (Law)

Defn: Deceitful; collusive; fraudulent; dishonest.

COW Cow (kou), n. Etym: [See Cowl a hood.]

Defn: A chimney cap; a cowl

COW Cow, n.; pl. Cows (kouz); old pl. Kine (k. Etym: [OE. cu, cou, AS. c; akin to D. koe, G. kuh, OHG. kuo, Icel. k, Dan. & Sw. ko, L. bos ox, cow, Gr. g. sq. root223. Cf. Beef, Bovine, Bucolic, Butter, Nylghau.]

1. The mature female of bovine animals.

2. The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.

COW Cow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud);; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. kuga, Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue. Cf. Cuff, v. t.]

Defn: To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to overawe. To vanquish a people already cowed. Shak. THe French king was cowed. J. R. Green.

COW Cow, n. Etym: [Prob. from same root as cow, v.t.] (Mining)

Defn: A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock. Knight.

COWAGE Cow"age (kou1j), n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cowhage.

COWALKER Co`walk"er, n.

Defn: A phantasmic or "astral" body deemed to be separable from the physical body and capable of acting independently; a doppelgänger.

COWAN Cow"an (kou"an), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.]

Defn: One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.]

Note: Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper.

COWARD Cow"ard (kou"rd), a. Etym: [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.]

1. (Her.)

Defn: Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion.

2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly. Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.

3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity. He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak. Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.

COWARD Cow"ard, n.

Defn: A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon. A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.

Syn. -- Craven; poltroon; dastard.

COWARD Cow"ard, v. t.

Defn: To make timoroys; to frighten. [Obs.] That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.

COWARDICE Cow"ard*ice (-s), n. Etym: [F. couardise, fr. couard. See Coward.]

Defn: Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity; pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit. The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton. Moderation was despised as cowardice. Macualay.

COWARDIE Cow"ard*ie (kou"rd-), n. Etym: [OF. couardie.]

Defn: Cowardice. [Obs.]

COWARDISH Cow"ard*ish, a.

Defn: Cowardly. [Obs.] " A base and a cowardish mind." Robynson (More's Utopia).

COWARDIZE Cow"ard*ize (-, v. t.

Defn: To render cowardly. [Obs.] God . . . cowardizeth . . . insolent spirits. Bp. Hall.

COWARDLINESS Cow"ard*li*ness (-l-ns), n.

Defn: Cowardice.

COWARDLY Cow"ard*ly, a.

1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless. The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak.

2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macualay. The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke.

Syn. -- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered.

COWARDLY Cow"ard*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a coward. Spenser.

COWARDSHIP Cow"ard*ship, n.

Defn: Cowardice. [Obs.] Shak.

COWBANE Cow"bane` (kou"bn`), n. (Bot.)

Defn: A poisonous umbelliferous plant; in England, the Cicuta virosa; in the United States, the Cicuta maculata and the Archemora rigida. See Water hemlock.

COWBERRY Cow"ber`ry (-br`r), n.; pl. Cowberries (-r. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of Vaccinium (V. Vitis-id), which bears acid red berries which are sometimes used in cookery; -- locally called mountain cranberry.

COWBIRD Cow"bird` (-brd`), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cow blackbird (Molothrus ater), an American starling. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds; -- so called because frequently associated with cattle.

COWBLAKES Cow"blakes` (-blks`), n. pl.

Defn: Dried cow dung used as fuel.[Prov. Eng.] Simmonds.

COWBOY Cow"boy` (-boi`), n.

1. A cattle herder; a drover; specifically, one of an adventurous class of herders and drovers on the plains of the Western and Southwestern United States.

2. One of the marauders who, in the Revolutionary War infested the neutral ground between the American and British lines, and committed depredations on the Americans.

COWCATCHER Cow"catch`er (-kch`r), n.

Defn: A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the pilot. [U.S.]

COWDIE Cow"die (kou"d), n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Kauri.

COWER Cow"er (-r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cowered (-rd);p. pr. & vb. n. Cowering.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. kera to doze, liequiet, Sw. kura, Dan. kure, G. kauern to cower, W. cwrian.]

Defn: To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to quail; to sink through fear. Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. Dryden. Like falcons, cowering on the nest. Goldsmith.

COWER Cow"er (kou"r), v. t.

Defn: To cherish with care. [Obs.]

COWFISH Cow"fish` (-fch`), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The grampus. (b) A California dolphin (Tursiops Gillii). (c) A marine plectognath fish (Ostracoin quadricorne, and allied species), having two projections, like horns, in front; -- called also cuckold, coffer fish, trunkfish.

COWHAGE Cow"hage (kou"hj), n. Etym: [Cf. Hind. kaw, ko.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous climbing plant of the genus Mucuna, having crooked pods covered with sharp hairs, which stick to the fingers, causing intolerable itching. The spiculæ are sometimes used in medicine as a mechanical vermifuge. [Written also couhage, cowage, and cowitch.]

COWHEARTED Cow"heart`ed (-hrt`d), a.

Defn: Cowardly. The Lady Powis . . . patted him with her fan, and called him a cowhearted fellow. R. North.

COWHERD Cow"herd` (-hrd`), n. Etym: [AS. c; c cow + hyrde a herder.]

Defn: One whose occupation is to tend cows.

COWHIDE Cow"hide` (-hd`), n.

1. The hide of a cow.

2. Leather made of the hide of a cow.

3. A coarse whip made of untanned leather.

COWHIDE Cow"hide`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowhided; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowhiding.]

Defn: To flog with a cowhide.

COWISH Cow"ish (kou"sh), a. Etym: [From Cow, v. t.]

Defn: Timorous; fearful; cowardly. [R.] Shak.

COWISH Cow"ish, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Peucedanum Cous) with edible tuberous roots, found in Oregon. [Written also cous.]

COWITCH Cow"itch (kou"ch; 224), n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cowhage.

COWL Cowl (koul), n. Etym: [AS cuhle, cugle, cugele; cf. dial. G. kogel, gugel, OF. coule, goule; all fr. LL. cuculla, cucullus, fr. L. cucullus cap, hood; perh. akin to celare to conceal, cella cell. Cf. Cucullate.]

1. A monk's hood; -- usually attached to the gown. The nname was also applied to the hood and garment together. What differ more, you cry, than crown and cowl Pope.

2. A cowl-shaped cap, commonly turning with the wind, used to improve the draft of a chimney, ventilatingshaft, etc.

3. A wire cap for the smokestack of a locomotive.

COWL Cowl, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. cuvele, cuvel, dim. of F. cuve tub, vat, fr. L. cupa. See Cup.]

Defn: A vessel carried on a pole between two persons, for conveyance of water. Johnson.

COWLED Cowled (kould), a.

Defn: Wearing a cowl; hooded; as, a cowled monk. "That cowled churchman." Emerson.

COWLEECH Cow"leech` (kou"lch`), n. Etym: [2d cow + leech a physician.]

Defn: One who heals disease of cows; a cow doctor.

COWLEECHING Cow"leech`ing, n.

Defn: Healing the distemper of cows.

COWLICK Cow"lick` (-lk`), n.

Defn: A tuft of hair turned up or awry (usually over the forehead), as if licked by a cow.

COWLIKE Cow"like` (-lk`), a.

Defn: Resembling a cow. With cowlike udders and with oxlike eyes. Pope.

COWLSTAFF Cowl"staff` (koul"stf`), n. Etym: [Cowl a vessel + staff.]

Defn: A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons. Suckling.

COWORKER Co`work"er (k`wrk"r), n.

Defn: One who works with another; a co

COW PARSLEY Cow" pars`ley (kou` prs`l). (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous plant of the genus Chærophyllum (C. temulum and C. sylvestre).

COW PARSNIP Cow" pars`nip (-np). (Bot.)

Defn: A coarse umbelliferous weed of the genus Heracleum (H. sphondylium in England, and H. lanatum in America).

COWPEA Cow"pea` (-p`), n.

Defn: The seed of one or more leguminous plants of the genus Dolichos; also, the plant itself. Many varieties are cultivated in the southern part of the United States.

COWPER'S GLANDS Cow"per's glands` (kou"prz glndz`). Etym: [After the discoverer, William Cowper, an English surgeon.] (Anat.)

Defn: Two small glands discharging into the male urethra.

COW-PILOT Cow"-pi`lot (kou"p`lt), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A handsomely banded, coral-reef fish, of Florida and the West Indies (Pomacentrus saxatilis); -- called also mojarra.

COWPOCK Cow"pock` (-pk`), n.

Defn: See Cowpox. Dunglison.

COWPOX Cow"pox` (--pks`), n. (Med.)

Defn: A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox, cowpock, and kinepock. Dunglison.

COWQUAKE Cow"quake` (-kwk`), n. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants (Briza); quaking grass.

COWRIE Cow"rie (-r), n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Kauri.

COWRIE; COWRY Cow"rie Cow"ry (kou"r), n.; pl. Cowries (-r. Etym: [Hind. kaur.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine shell of the genus Cypræa.

Note: There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. Formerly C. moneta and several other species were largely used as money in Africa and some other countries, and they are still so used to some extent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.

COWSLIP Cow"slip` (-slp`), n. Etym: [AS. c, c, prob. orig., cow's droppings. Cf. Slop, n.] (Bot.)

1. A common flower in England (Primula veris) having yellow blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United States.

2. In the United States, the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust. of Marsh marigold. American cowslip (Bot.), a pretty flower of the West (Dodecatheon Meadia), belonging to the same order (Primulaceæ) with the English cowslip. -- French cowslip (Bot.), bear's-ear (Primula Auricula).

COWSLIPPED Cow"slipped` (-slpt`), a.

Defn: Adorned with cowslips. "Cowslipped lawns." Keats.

COW'S LUNGWORT Cow's" lung"wort` (kouz" lng"wrt`).

Defn: Mullein.

COW TREE Cow" tree` (kou" tr`). Etym: [Cf. SP. palo de vaca.] (Bot.)

Defn: A tree (Galactodendron utile or Brosimum Galactodendron) of South America, which yields, on incision, a nourishing fluid, resembling milk.

COWWEED Cow"weed" (-wEd`),, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Cow parsley.

COWWHEAT Cow"wheat` (-hwt`), n. (Bot.)

Defn: A weed of the genus Melampyrum, with black seeds, found on European wheatfields.

COX Cox (kks), n. Etym: [OE. cokes. Cf. Coax.]

Defn: A coxcomb; a simpleton; a gull. [Obs.] Go; you're a brainless cox, a toy, a fop. Beau. & Fl.

COXA Cox"a (kks"), n. Etym: [L., the hip.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The first joint of the leg of an insect or crustacean.

COXALGIA; COXALGY Cox*al"gi*a (-l"j-), Cox"al`gy (kks"l`j), n. Etym: [NL. coxalgia, fr. L. coxa hip. + Gr. coxalgie.] (Med.)

Defn: Pain in the hip.

COXCOMB Cox"comb` (kks"km`), n. Etym: [A corrupted spelling of cock's comb.]

1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps. (b) The cap itself.

2. The top of the head, or the head itself. We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into your coxcombs. Beau & Fl.

3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop. Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levee. Goldsmith. Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs, nature meant but fools. Pope.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata, or garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb.

COXCOMBICAL Cox*comb"ic*al (kks-km"-kal), a.

Defn: Befitting or indicating a coxcomb; like a coxcomb; foppish; conceited. -- Cox*comb"ic*al*ly, adv. Studded all over in coxcombical fashion with little brass nails. W. Irving.

COXCOMBLY Cox"comb"ly (kks"km`l), a.

Defn: like a coxcomb. [Obs.] "You coxcombly ass, you!" Beau & Fl.

COXCOMBRY Cox"comb`ry (-r), n.

Defn: The manners of a coxcomb; foppishness.

COXCOMICAL Cox*com"ic*al (kks-km"-kal), a.

Defn: Coxcombical. [R.]

COXCOMICALLY Cox*com"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Conceitedly. [R.]

COXSWAIN Cox"swain` (kk"swn, Colloq. kk"s'n), n.

Defn: See Cockswain.

COY Coy (koi), a. Etym: [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L. quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to E. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.]

1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry. Coy, and difficult to win. Cowper. Coy and furtive graces. W. Irving. Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest. Goldsmith.

3. Soft; gentle; hesitating. Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee. Shak.

Syn. -- Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.

COY Coy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]

1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.] A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets. Bp. Rainbow.

2. To caress with the hand; to stroke. Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. Shak.

COY Coy, v. i.

1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.] Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! Rowe.

2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.] If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak.

COYISH Coy"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat coy or reserved. Warner.

COYLY Coy"ly, adv.

Defn: In a coy manner; with reserve.

COYNESS Coy"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being coy; feigned o When the kind nymph would coyness feign, And hides but to be found again. Dryden.

Syn. -- Reserve; shrinking; shyness; backwardness; modesty; bashfulness.

COYOTE Coy"o*te (k"-t or k"t), n. Etym: [Spanish Amer., fr. Mexican coyotl.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A carnivorous animal (Canis latrans), allied to the dog, found in the western part of North America; -- called also prairie wolf. Its voice is a snapping bark, followed by a prolonged, shrill howl.

COYOTE STATE Coyote State.

Defn: South Dakota; -- a nickname.

COYOTILLO Co`yo*til"lo, n. [Mex. Sp. dim. See Coyote.]

Defn: A low rhamnaceous shrub (Karwinskia humboldtiana) of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its berries are said to be poisonous to the coyote.

COYPU Coy"pu (koi"p), n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South American rodent (Myopotamus coypus), allied to the beaver. It produces a valuable fur called nutria. [Written also coypou.]

COYSTREL Coys"trel (kois"trl), n.

Defn: Same as Coistril.

COZ Coz (kz), n.

Defn: A contraction of cousin. Shak.

COZEN Coz"en (kz"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cozened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cozening (-'n-ng). ] Etym: [From cousin, hence, literally, to deceive through pretext of relationship, F. cousiner.]

Defn: To cheat; to defrand; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way. He had cozened the world by fine phrases. Macualay. Children may be cozened into a knowledge of the letters. Locke. Goring loved no man so well but that he would cozen him, and expose him to public mirth for having been cozened. Clarendon.

COZEN Coz"en, v. i.

Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to act deceitfully. Some cogging,cozening slave. Shak.

COZENAGE Coz"en*age (-j), n. Etym: [See Cozen, and cf. Cousinage.]

Defn: The art or practice of cozening; artifice; fraud. Shak.

COZENER Coz"en*er (kz"'n-r), n.

Defn: One who cheats or defrauds.

COZIER Co*zier (k"zhr), n.

Defn: See Cosier.

COZILY Co"zi*ly (k"z-l), adv.

Defn: Snugly; comfortably.

COZINESS Co"zi*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being cozy.

COZY Co"zy (k"z), a. [Compar. Cozier (-z-r); superl. Coziest.] Etym: [Cf. Scot. cosie, cozie, prob. from Gael. cosach abounding in hollows, or cosagach full of holes or crevices, snug, sheltered, from cos a hollow, a crevice.]

1. Snug; comfortable; easy; contented. [Written also cosey and cosy.]

2. Etym: [Cf. F. causer to chat, talk.]

Defn: Chatty; talkative; sociable; familiar. [Eng.]

COZY Co"zy, n. Etym: [See Cozy,a.]

Defn: A wadded covering for a teakettle or other vessel to keep the contents hot.

CRAB Crab (krb), n. Etym: [AS. crabba; akin to D. krab, G. krabbe, krebs, Icel. krabbi, Sw. krabba, Dan. krabbe, and perh. to E. cramp. Cf. Crawfish.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the brachyuran Crustacea. They are mostly marine, and usually have a broad, short body, covered with a strong shell or carapace. The abdomen is small and curled up beneath the body.

Note: The name is applied to all the Brachyura, and to certain Anomura, as the hermit crabs. Formerly, it was sometimes applied to Crustacea in general. Many species are edible, the blue crab of the Atlantic coast being one of the most esteemed. The large European edible crab is Cancer padurus. Soft-shelled crabs are blue crabs that have recently cast their shells. See Cancer; also, Box crab, Fiddler crab, Hermit crab, Spider crab, etc., under Box, Fiddler. etc.

2. The zodiacal constellation Cancer.

3. Etym: [See Crab, a.] (Bot.)

Defn: A crab apple; -- so named from its harsh taste. When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly sings the staring owl. Shak.

4. A cudgel made of the wood of the crab tree; a crabstick. [Obs.] Garrick.

5. (Mech.) (a) A movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing, used with derricks, etc. (b) A form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling ships into dock, etc. (c) A machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn. (d) A claw for anchoring a portable machine. Calling crab. (Zoöl.) See Fiddler., n., 2. -- Crab apple, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also, the tree which bears it; as, the European crab apple (Pyrus Malus var.sylvestris); the Siberian crab apple (Pyrus baccata); and the American (Pyrus coronaria). -- Crab grass. (Bot.) (a) A grass (Digitaria, or Panicum, sanguinalis); -- called also finger grass. (b) A grass of the genus Eleusine (E. Indica); -- called also dog's-tail grass, wire grass, etc. -- Crab louse (Zoöl.), a species of louse (Phthirius pubis), sometimes infesting the human body. -- Crab plover (Zoöl.), an Asiatic plover (Dromas ardeola). -- Crab's eyes, or Crab's stones, masses of calcareous matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either side of the stomach of the European crawfishes, and formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid purposes; the gastroliths. -- Crab spider (Zoöl.), one of a group of spiders (Laterigradæ); -- called because they can run backwards or sideways like a crab. -- Crab tree, the tree that bears crab applies. -- Crab wood, a light cabinet wood obtained in Guiana, which takes a high polish. McElrath. -- To catch a crab (Naut.), a phrase used of a rower: (a) when he fails to raise his oar clear of the water; (b) when he misses the water altogether in making a stroke.

CRAB Crab (krb), v. t.

1. To make sour or morose; to embitter. [Obs.] Sickness sours or crabs our nature. Glanvill.

2. To beat with a crabstick. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.

CRAB Crab, v. i. (Naut.)

Defn: To drift sidewise or to leeward, as a vessel. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

CRAB Crab, a. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as crab, n.]

Defn: Sour; rough; austere. The crab vintage of the neighb'ring coast. Dryden.

CRABBED Crab"bed (krb"bd), a. Etym: [See Crab,n.]

1. Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; -- applied to feelings, disposition, or manners. Crabbed age and youth can not live together. Shak.

2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; -- applied to things; as, a crabbed taste.

3. Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying; as, a crabbed author. "Crabbed eloquence." Chaucer. How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose. Milton.

4. Cramped; irregular; as, crabbed handwriting. -- Crab"bed*ly, adv. -- Crab"bed*ness, n.

CRABBER Crab"ber (krb"br), n.

Defn: One who catches crabs.

CRABBING Crab"bing, n.

1. The act or art of catching crabs.

2. (Falconry)

Defn: The foghting of hawks with each other.

3. (Woolem Manuf.)

Defn: A process of scouring clocth be

CRABBISH Crab"bish (krb"bsh), a.

Defn: Somewhat sour or cross. The wips of the most crabbish Satyristes. Decker.

CRABBY Crab"by (-b), a.

Defn: Crabbed; difficult, or perplexing. "Persius is crabby, because ancient." Marston.

CRABEATER Crab"eat`er (krb"t`r), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The cobia. (b) An etheostomoid fish of the southern United States (Hadropterus nigrofasciatus). (c) A small European heron (Ardea minuta, and other allied species).

CRABER Cra"ber (kr"br), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The water rat. Walton.

CRABFACED Crab"faced` (krb"fst`), a.

Defn: Having a sour, disagreeable countenance. Beau & Fl.

CRABSIDLE Crab"si`dle (-s`d'l), v. i.

Defn: To move sidewise, as a crab. [Jocular]. Southey.

CRABSTICK Crab"stick` (-stk`), n.

Defn: A stick, cane, or cudgel, made of the wood of the carb tree.

CRAB TREE Crab" tree (tr`).

Defn: See under Crab.

CRAB-YAWS Crab"-yaws` (krb"yz`), n. (Med.)

Defn: A disease in the West Indies. It is a kind of ulcer on the soles of the feet, with very hard edges. See Yaws. Dunglison.

CRACHE Crache (krch), v.

Defn: To scratch. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CRACK Crack (krk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cracked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Cracking.] Etym: [OE. cracken, craken, to crack, break, boast, AS. cracian, cearcian, to crack; akin to D. kraken, G. krachen; cf. Skr. garj to rattle, or perh. of imitative origin. Cf. Crake, Cracknel, Creak.]

1. To break or burst, with or without entire separation of the parts; as, to crack glass; to crack nuts.

2. To rend with grief or pain; to affect deeply with sorrow; hence, to disorder; to distract; to craze. O, madam, my old hear is cracked. Shak. He thought none poets till their brains were cracked. Roscommon.

3. To cause to sound suddenly and sharply; to snap; as, to crack a whip.

4. To utter smartly and sententiously; as, to crack a joke. B. Jonson.

5. To cry up; to extol; -- followed by up. [Low] To crack a bottle, to open the bottle and drink its contents. -- To crack a crib, to commit burglary. [Slang] -- To crack on, to put on; as, to crack on more sail, or more steam. [Colloq.]

CRACK Crack, v. i.

1. To burst or open in chinks; to break, with or without quite separating into parts. By misfortune it cracked in the coling. Boyle. The mirror cracked from side to side. Tennyson.

2. To be ruined or impaired; to fail. [Collog.] The credit . . . of exchequers cracks, when little comes in and much goes out. Dryden.

3. To utter a loud or sharp, sudden sound. As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack. Shak.

4. To utter vain, pompous words; to brag; to boast; -- with of. [Archaic.] Ethoipes of their sweet complexion crack. Shak.

CRACK Crack, n.

1. A partial separation of parts, with or without a perceptible opening; a chink or fissure; a narrow breach; a crevice; as, a crack in timber, or in a wall, or in glass.

2. Ropture; flaw; breach, in a moral sense. My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw. Shak.

3. A sharp, sudden sound or report; the sound of anything suddenly burst or broken; as, the crack of a falling house; the crack of thunder; the crack of a whip. Will the stretch out to the crack of doom Shak.

4. The tone of voice when changed at puberty. Though now our voices Have got the mannish crack. Shak.

5. Mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity; as, he has a crack.

6. A crazy or crack-brained person. [Obs.] I . . . can not get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me as a crack and a projector. Addison.

7. A boast; boasting. [Obs.] "Crack and brags." Burton. "Vainglorius cracks." Spenser.

8. Breach of chastity. [Obs.] Shak.

9. A boy, generally a pert, lively boy. [Obs.] Val. 'Tis a noble child. Vir. A crack, madam. Shak.

10. A brief time; an instant; as, to be with one in a crack. [Eng. & Scot. Colloq.]

11. Free conversation; friendly chat. [Scot.] What is crack in English . . . Acrack . . . a chat with a good, kindly human heart in it. P. P. Alexander.

CRACK Crack, a.

Defn: Of superior excellence; having qualities to be boasted of. [Colloq.] One of our crack speakers in the Commons. Dickens.

CRACKAJACK Crack"a*jack`, n.

1. An individual of marked ability or excellence, esp. in some sport; as, he is a crackajack at tennis. [Slang]

2. A preparation of popped corn, candied and pressed into small cakes. [U. S.]

CRACKAJACK Crack"a*jack`, a.

Defn: Of marked ability or excellence. [Slang]

CRACK-BRAINED Crack"-brained` (-brnd`), a.

Defn: Having an impaired intellect; whimsical; crazy. Pope.

CRACKED Cracked (krkt), a.

1. Coarsely ground or broken; as, cracked wheat.

2. Crack-brained. [Colloq.]

CRACKER Crack"er (krk"r), n.

1. One who, or that which, cracks.

2. A noisy boaster; a swaggering fellow. [Obs.] What cracker is this same that deafs our ears Shak.

3. A small firework, consisting of a little powder inclossed in a thick paper cylinder with a fuse, and exploding with a sharp noise; - - often called firecracker.

4. A thin, dry biscuit, often hard or crisp; as, a Boston cracker; a Graham cracker; a soda cracker; an oyster cracker.

5. A nickname to designate a poor white in some parts of the Southern United States. Bartlett.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pintail duck.

7. pl. (Mach.)

Defn: A pair of fluted rolls for grinding caoutchouc. Knight.

CRACKER STATE Cracker State.

Defn: Georgia; -- a nickname. See Cracker, n. 5.

CRACKLE Crac"kle (krk"k'l), v. i. Etym: [Dim. of crack.]

Defn: To make slight cracks; to make small, sharp, sudden noises, rapidly or frequently repeated; to crepitate; as, burning thorns crackle. The unknown ice that crackles underneath them. Dryden.

CRACKLE Crac"kle, n.

1. The noise of slight and frequent cracks or reports; a crackling. The crackle of fireworks. Carlyle.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A kind of crackling sound or râle, heard in some abnormal states of the lungs; as, dry crackle; moist crackle. Quain.

3. (Fine Arts)

Defn: A condition produced in certain porcelain, fine earthenware, or glass, in which the glaze or enamel appears to be cracked in all directions, making a sort of reticulated surface; as, Chinese crackle; Bohemian crackle.

CRACKLED Crac"kled (-k'ld), a. (Fine Arts)

Defn: Covered with minute cracks in the glaze; -- said of some kinds of porcelain and fine earthenware.

CRACKLEWARE Crac"kle*ware` (-wr`), n.

Defn: See Crackle, n., 3.

CRACKLING Crac"kling (krk"klng), n.

1. The making of small, sharp cracks or reports, frequently repeated. As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. Eccl. vii. 6.

2. The well-browned, crisp rind of roasted pork. For the first time in his life he tested crackling. Lamb.

3. pl.

Defn: Food for dogs, made from the refuse of tallow melting.

CRACK-LOO; CRACKALOO Crack"-loo`, n. Also Crack"a*loo` .

Defn: A kind of gambling game consisting in pitching coins to or towards the ceiling of a room so that they shall fall as near as possible to a certain crack in the floor. [Gamblers' Cant, U. S.]

CRACKNEL Crack"nel (krk"nl), n. Etym: [F. craquelin, fr. D. krakeling, fr. krakken to crack. See Crack, v. t.]

Defn: A hard brittle cake or biscuit. Spenser.

CRACKSMAN Cracks"man (krks"man), n., pl. Cracksmen (-men).

Defn: A burglar. [Slang]

CRACOVIAN Cra*co"vi*an (kr-k"v-an), a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Cracow in Poland.

CRACOVIENNE Cra*co`vi*enne" (kr-k`v-n"), n. Etym: [F., fr. Cracow, the city.] (Mus.)

Defn: A lively Polish dance, in 2-4 time.

CRACOWES Cra"cowes (kr"kz), n. pl.

Defn: Long-toed boots or shoes formerly worn in many parts of Europe; -- so called from Cracow, in Poland, where they were first worn in the fourteenth century. Fairholt.

CRADLE Cra"dle (krd'l), n. Etym: [AS. cradel, cradol, prob. from Celtic; cf. Gael. creathall, Ir. craidhal, W. cryd a shaking or rocking, a cradle; perh. akin to E. crate.]

1. A bed or cot for a baby, oscillating on rockers or swinginng on pivots; hence, the place of origin, or in which anything is nurtured or protected in the earlier period of existence; as, a cradle of crime; the cradle of liberty. The cradle that received thee at thy birth. Cowper. No sooner was I crept out of my cradle But I was made a king, at nine months old. Shak.

2. Infancy, or very early life. From their cradles bred together. Shak. A form of worship in which they had been educated from their cradles. Clarendon.

3. (Agric.)

Defn: An implement consisting of a broad scythe for cutting grain, with a set of long fingers parallel to the scythe, designed to receive the grain, and to lay it eventlyin a swath.

4. (Engraving)

Defn: A tool used in mezzotint engraving, which, by a rocking motion, raises burrs on the surface of the plate, so preparing the ground.

5. A framework of timbers, or iron bars, moving upon ways or rollers, used to support, lift, or carry ships or other vessels, heavy guns, etc., as up an inclined plane, or across a strip of land, or in launching a ship.

6. (Med.) (a) A case for a broken or dislocated limb. (b) A frame to keep the bedclothes from conntact with the person.

7. (Mining) (a) A machine on rockers, used in washing out auriferous earth; -- also called a rocker. [U.S.] (b) A suspended scaffold used in shafts.

8. (Carp.)

Defn: The ribbing for vaulted ceilings and arches intended to be covered with plaster. Knight.

9. (Naut.)

Defn: The basket or apparatus in which, when a line has been made fast to a wrecked ship from the shore, the people are brought off from the wreck. Cat's cradle. See under Cat. -- Cradle hole, a sunken place in a road, caused by thawing, or by travel over a soft spot. -- Cradle scythe, a broad scythe used in a cradle for cutting grain.

CRADLE Cra"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cradled (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cradling (-dlng).]

1. To lay to rest, or rock, as in a cradle; to lull or quiet, as by rocking. It cradles their fears to sleep. D. A. Clark.

2. To nurse or train in infancy. He that hath been cradled in majesty will not leave the throne to play with beggars. Glanvill.

3. To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.

4. To transport a vessel by means of a cradle. In Lombardy . . . boats are cradled and transported over the grade. Knight. To cradle a picture, to put ribs across the back of a picture, to prevent the panels from warping.

CRADLE Cra"dle, v. i.

Defn: To lie or lodge, as in a cradle. Withered roots and husks wherein the acorn cradled. Shak.

CRADLELAND Cra"dle*land` (kra"d'l*land`), n.

Defn: Land or region where one was cradled; hence, land of origin.

CRADLING Cra"dling (-dlng), n.

1. The act of using a cradle.

2. (Coopering)

Defn: Cutting a cask into two pieces lengthwise, to enable it to pass a narrow place, the two parts being afterward united and rehooped.

3. (Carp.)

Defn: The framework in arched or coved ceilings to which the laths are nailed. Knight.

CRAFT Craft (krft), n. Etym: [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh. originally, a drawing together, stretching, from the root of E. cramp.]

1. Strength; might; secret power. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence, the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade. Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Acts xix. 25. A poem is the work of the poet; poesy is his skill or craft of making. B. Jonson. Since the birth of time, throughout all ages and nations, Has the craft of the smith been held in repute. Longfellow.

3. Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the craft of ironmongers. The control of trade passed from the merchant guilds to the new craft guilds. J. R. Green.

4. Cunning, art, or skill, in a bad sense, or applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; skill or dexterity employed to effect purposes by deceit or shrewd devices. You have that crooked wisdom which is called craft. Hobbes. The chief priets and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. Mark xiv. 1.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: A vessel; vessels of any kind; -- generally used in a collective sense. The evolutions of the numerous tiny craft moving over the lake. Prof. Wilson. Small crafts, small vessels, as sloops, schooners, ets.

CRAFT Craft, v.t.

Defn: To play tricks; to practice artifice. [Obs.] You have crafted fair. Shak.

CRAFTER crafter n.

Defn: a creator of great skill in the manual arts. Syn. -- craftsman. [WordNet 1.5]

CRAFTILY Craft"i*ly (--l), adv. Etym: [See Crafty.]

Defn: With craft; artfully; cunningly.

CRAFTINESS Craft"i*ness (krft"-ns), n.

Defn: Dexterity in devising and effecting a purpose; cunning; artifice; stratagem. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. Job. v. 13.

CRAFTLESS Craft"less (-ls), a.

Defn: Without craft or cunning. Helpless, craftless, and innocent people. Jer. Taylor.

CRAFTSMAN Crafts"man (krfts"man), n.; pl. Craftsmen (-men).

Defn: One skilled in some trade or manual occupation; an artificer; a mechanic.

CRAFTSMANSHIP Crafts"man*ship, n.

Defn: The work of a craftsman.

CRAFTSMASTER Crafts"mas`ter (-ms`tr), n.

Defn: One skilled in his craft or trade; one of superior cunning. In cunning persuasion his craftsmaster. Holland.

CRAFTY Craft"y (krft"), a. Etym: [AS. cr.]

1. Relating to, or characterized by, craft or skill; dexterous. [Obs.] "Crafty work." Piers Plowman.

2. Possessing dexterity; skilled; skillful. A noble crafty man of trees. Wyclif.

3. Skillful at deceiving others; characterized by craft; cunning; wily. "A pair of crafty knaves." Shak. With anxious care and crafty wiles. J. Baillie.

Syn. -- Skillful; dexterous; cunning; artful; wily; Cunning.

CRAG Crag (krg), n. Etym: [W. craig; akin to Gael. creag, Corn. karak, Armor. karrek.]

1. A steep, rugged rock; a cough, broken cliff, or point of a rock, on a ledge. From crag to crag the signal fiew. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: A partially compacted bed of gravel mixed with shells, of the Tertiary age.

CRAG Crag, n. Etym: [A form of craw: cf. D. kraag neck, collar, G. kragen. See Craw.]

1. The neck or throat [Obs.] And bear the crag so stiff and so state. Spenser.

2. The neck piece or scrag of mutton. Johnson.

CRAGGED Crag"ged (-gd), a.

Defn: Full of crags, or steep, broken Into its cragged rents descend. J. Baillie.

CRAGGEDNESS Crag"ged*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being cragged; cragginess.

CRAGGINESS Crag"gi*ness (-g-ns), n.

Defn: The state of being craggy.

CRAGGY Crag"gy (krg"g), a.

Defn: Full of crags; rugged with projecting points of rocks; as, the craggy side of a mountain. "The craggy ledge." Tennyson.

CRAGSMAN Crags"man (krgz"man), n.; pl. Cragsmen (-men).

Defn: One accustomed to climb rocks or crags; esp., one who makes a business of climbing the cliffs overhanging the sea to get the eggs of sea birds or the birds themselves.

CRAIE Craie (kr), n.

Defn: See Crare. [Obs.]

CRAIG FLOUNDER Craig" floun`der (krg" floun`dr). Etym: [Scot. craig a rock. See 1st Crag.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pole flounder.

CRAIL Crail (krl),, n. Etym: [See Creel.]

Defn: A creel or osier basket.

CRAKE Crake (krk), v. t. & i. Etym: [See Crack.]

1. To cry out harshly and loudly, like the bird called crake.

2. To boast; to speak loudly and boastfully. [Obs.] Each man may crake of that which was his own. Mir. for Mag.

CRAKE Crake, n.

Defn: A boast. See Crack, n. [Obs.] Spenser.

CRAKE Crake, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kr crow, kr raven, Sw. kr, Dan. krage; perh. of imitative origin. Cf. Crow.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species or rail of the genera Crex and Porzana; -- so called from its singular cry. See Corncrake.

CRAKEBERRY Crake"ber`ry (-br`r), n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Crowberry.

CRAKER Crak"er (krk"r), n.

Defn: One who boasts; a braggart. [Obs.] Old Play.

CRAM Cram (krm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crammed (krmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cramming.] Etym: [AS. crammian to cram; akin to Icel. kremia to squeeze, bruise, Sw. krama to press. Cf. Cramp.]

1. To press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrustung one thing into another; to stuff; to crowd; to fill to superfluity; as, to cram anything into a basket; to cram a room with people. Their storehouses crammed with grain. Shak. He will cram his brass down our throats. Swift.

2. To fill with food to satiety; to stuff. Children would be freer from disease if they were not crammed so much as they are by fond mothers. Locke. Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things. Shak.

3. To put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study, as in preparation for an examination; as, a pupil is crammed by his tutor.

CRAM Cram, v. i.

1. To eat greedly, and to satiety; to stuff. Gluttony . . . . Cr, and blasphemes his feeder. Milton.

2. To make crude preparation for a special occasion, as an examination, by a hasty and extensive course of memorizing or study. [Colloq.]

CRAM Cram, n.

1. The act of cramming.

2. Innformation hastily memorized; as. a cram from an examination. [Colloq.]

3. (Weaving)

Defn: A warp having more than two threads passing through each dent or split of the reed.

CRAMBO Cram"bo, n. Etym: [Cf. Cramp, a., difficult.]

1. A game in which one person gives a word, to which another finds a rhyme. I saw in one corner . . . a cluster of men and women,diverting themselves with a game at crambo. I heard several double rhymes . . . which raised a great deal of mirth. Addison.

2. A werd rhyming with another word. His similes in order set And every crambo he could get. Swift. Dumb crambo, a game in which one party of players give a word which rhymes with another, which last to be guessed by the opposing party, who represent in dumb show what they think it to be.

CRAMMER Cram"mer (krm"mr), n.

Defn: One who crams; esp., one who prepares a pupil hastily for an exxamination, or a pupil who is thus prepared. Dickens.

CRAMOISIE; CRAMOISY Cra*moi"sie Cra*moi"sy (kr-moi"z), a. Etym: [F. cramoisi crimson. See Crimson.]

Defn: Crimson. [Obs.] A splendid seignior, magnificent in cramoisy velevet. Motley.

CRAMP Cramp (krmp), n. Etym: [OE. crampe, craumpe; akin to D. & Sw. kramp, Dan. krampe, G. krampf (whence F. crampe), Icel. krappr strait, narrow, and to E. crimp, crumple; cf. cram. See Grape.]

1. That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shakle; a hindrance. A narrow fortune is a cramp to a great mind. L'Estrange. Crippling his pleasures with the cramp of fear. Cowper.

2. (Masonry)

Defn: A device, usually of iron bent at the ends, used to hold together blocks of stone, timbers, etc.; a cramp iron.

3. (Carp.)

Defn: A rectangular frame, with a tightening screw, used for compressing the jionts of framework, etc.

4. A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched to give it the requisite shape.

5. (Med.)

Defn: A spasmodic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, as of the leg. The cramp, divers nights, gripeth him in his legs. Sir T. More. Cramp bone, the patella of a sheep; -- formerly used as a charm for the cramp. Halliwell. "He could turn cramp bones into chess men." Dickens. -- Cramp ring, a ring formerly supposed to have virtue in averting or curing cramp, as having been consecrated by one of the kings of England on Good Friday.

CRAMP Cramp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cramped (krp. pr. & vb. n. Cramping.]

1. To compress; to restrain from free action; to confine and contract; to hinder. The mind my be as much cramped by too much knowledge as by ignorance. Layard.

2. To fasten or hold with, or as with, a cramp.

3. Hence, to bind together; to unite. The . . . fabric of universal justic is well cramped and bolted together in all its parts. Burke.

4. To form on a cramp; as, to cramp boot legs.

5. To afflict with cramp. When the gout cramps my joints. Ford. To cramp the wheels of wagon, to turn the front wheels out of line with the hind wheels, so that one of them shall be against the body of the wagon.

CRAMP Cramp, a. Etym: [See Cramp, n.]

Defn: Knotty; difficult. [R.] Care being taken not to add any of the cramp reasons for this opinion. Coleridge.

CRAMPET Cram"pet (krm"pt), n. Etym: [See Cramp,n.] (Mil.)

Defn: A cramp iron or cramp ring; a chape, as of a scabbard. [Written also crampit and crampette.]

CRAMPFISH Cramp"fish` (krmp"fsh`), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The torpedo, or electric ray, the touch of which gives an electric shock. See Electric fish, and Torpedo.

CRAMP IRON Cramp" i`ron (`rn).

Defn: See Cramp, n., 2.

CRAMPIT Cram"pit (krm"pt), n. (Mil.)

Defn: See Crampet.

CRAMPON Cram"pon (krm"pn), n. Etym: [F. See Crampoons.] (Bot.)

Defn: An a

CRAMPONEE Cram`po*nee" (krm`p-n"), a. Etym: [F. cramponn. See Crampoons.] (Her.)

Defn: Having a cramp or square piece at the end; -- said of a cross so furnished.

CRAMPOONS Cram*poons" (krm-pnz"), n. pl. Etym: [F. crampon, fr. OHG. chramph crooked; akin to G. krampf cramp. See Cramp,n., and cf. Crampon.]

1. A clutch formed of hooked pieces of iron, like double calipers, for raising stones, lumber, blocks of ice, etc.

2. Iron insruments with sharp points, worn on the shoes to assist in gaining or keeping a foothold.

CRAMPY Cramp"y (krmp"),

1. Affected with cramp.

2. Productive of, or abounding in, cramps. "This crampy country." Howitt.

CRAN; CRANE Cran (krn), Crane (krn), n. Etym: [Scot., fr. Gael. crann.]

Defn: A measure for fresh herrings, -- as many as will fill a barrel. [Scot.] H. Miller.

CRANAGE Cran"age (krn"j), n. Etym: [See Crane.]

1. The liberty of using a crane, as for loading and unloading vessels.

2. The money or price paid for the use of a crane.

CRANBERRY Cran"ber*ry (krn"br-r), n.; pl. Cranberries (-r Etym: [So named from its fruit being ripe in the spring when the cranes return. Dr. Prior.] (Bot.)

Defn: A red, acid berry, much used for making sauce, etc.; also, the plant producing it (several species of Vaccinum or Oxycoccus.) The high cranberry or cranberry tree is a species of Viburnum (V. Opulus), and the other is sometimes called low cranberry or marsh cranberry to distinguish it.

CRANCH Cranch (krnch), v. t.

Defn: See Craunch.

CRANDALL Cran"dall (kran"dal), n. [Prob. from Crandall, a proper name.] (Stonecutting)

Defn: A kind of hammer having a head formed of a group of pointed steel bars, used for dressing ashlar, etc. -- v. t.

Defn: To dress with a crandall.

CRANE Crane (krn), n. Etym: [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan, G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. grus, W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav, Lith. gerve, Icel. trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. Geranium.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.

Note: The common European crane is Grus cinerea. The sand-hill crane (G. Mexicana) and the whooping crane (G. Americana) are large American species. The Balearic or crowned crane is Balearica pavonina. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and cormorants.

2. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. Of Derrick.

3. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.

4. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2. Crane fly (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of the genus Tipula. -- Derrick crane. See Derrick. -- Gigantic crane. (Zoöl.) See Adjutant, n., 3. -- Traveling crane, Traveler crane, Traversing crane (Mach.), a crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead crane consisting of a crab or other hoisting apparatus traveling on rails or beams fixed overhead, as in a machine shop or foundry. -- Water crane, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout, for filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with water.

CRANE Crane (krn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Craned (krnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Craning.]

1. To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with up. [R.] What engines, what instruments are used in craning up a soul, sunk below the center, to the highest heavens. Bates. An upstart craned up to the height he has. Massinger.

2. To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck disdainfully. G. Eliot.

CRANE crane, v. i.

Defn: to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better; as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap. Beaconsfield. Thackeray. The passengers eagerly craning forward over the bulwarks. Howells.

CRANE'S-BILL Crane's"-bill` (krnz"bl`), n.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The geranium; -- so named from the long axis of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane. Dr. Prior.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: A pair of long-beaked forceps.

CRANG Crang (krng), n.

Defn: See Krang.

CRANIA Cra"ni*a (kr"n-), n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of living Brachiopoda; -- so called from its fancied resemblance to the cranium or skull.

CRANIAL Cra"ni*al (kr"n-al), a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the cranium.

CRANIOCLASM Cra"ni*o*clasm (kr"n--klz'm), n. Etym: [Cranium + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The crushing of a child's head, as with the cranioclast or craniotomy forceps in cases of very difficult delivery. Dunglison.

CRANIOCLAST Cra"ni*o*clast (-klst), n. (Med.)

Defn: An instrument for crushing the head of a fetus, to facilitate delivery in difficult eases.

CRANIOFACIAL Cra`ni*o*fa"cial (-f"shal), a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the cranium and face; as, the craniofacial angle.

CRANIOGNOMY Cra`ni*og"no*my (-g"n-m), n. Etym: [Cranium + Gr.

Defn: The science of the form and characteristics of the skull. [R.]

CRANIOLOGICAL Cra`ni*o*log"ic*al (--lj"-kal), a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to craniology.

CRANIOLOGIST Cra`ni*ol"o*gist (-l"-jst), n.

Defn: One proficient in craniology; a phrenologist.

CRANIOLOGY Cra`ni*ol"o*gy (-j), n. Etym: [Cranium + -logy.]

Defn: The department of science (as of ethnology or archæology) which deals with the shape, size, proportions, indications, etc., of skulls; the study of skulls.

CRANIOMETER Cra`ni*om"e*ter (kr`n-m"-tr), n. Etym: [Cranium + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the size of skulls.

CRANIOMETRIC; CRANIOMETRICAL Cra`ni*o*met"ric (--mt"rk), Cra`ni*o*met"ric*al (-r-kal), a.

Defn: Pertaining to craniometry.

CRANIOMETRY Cra`ni*om"e*try (kr`n-m"-tr), n.

Defn: The art or act of measuring skulls.

CRANIOSCOPIST Cra`ni*os"co*pist (kr`n-s"k-pst), n.

Defn: One skilled in, or who practices, cranioscopy. It was found of equal dimension in a literary man whose skull puzzied the cranioscopists. Coleridge.

CRANIOSCOPY Cra`ni*os"co*py (-p), n. Etym: [Cranium + -scopy.]

Defn: Scientific examination of the cranium.

CRANIOTA Cra`ni*o"ta (kr`n-t), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. cranium.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A comprehensive division of the Vertebrata, including all those that have a skull.

CRANIOTOMY Cra`ni*ot"o*my (kr`n-t"-m), n. Etym: [Cranium + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of opening the fetal head, in order to effect delivery.

CRANIUM Cra"ni*um (kr"n-m), n.; pl. E. Craniums (-Crania (-. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: The skull of an animal; especially, that part of the skull, either cartilaginous or bony, which immediately incloses the brain; the brain case or brainpan. See Skull.

CRANK Crank (krnk), n. Etym: [OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe, cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, "to turn, twist." See Cringe.]

1. (Mach.)

Defn: A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank.

2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks. Spenser.

3. A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word. Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton.

4. A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion. [Prov. Eng.] Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks. Carlyle.

5. A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter. [Colloq.]

6. A sick person; an invalid. [Obs.] Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater. Burton. Crank axle (Mach.), a driving axle formed with a crank or cranks, as in some kinds of locomotives. -- Crank pin (Mach.), the cylindrical piece which forms the handle, or to which the connecting rod is attached, at the end of a crank, or between the arms of a double crank. -- Crank shaft, a shaft bent into a crank, or having a crank fastened to it, by which it drives or is driven. -- Crank wheel, a wheel acting as a crank, or having a wrist to which a connecting rod is attached.

CRANK Crank (krnk), a. Etym: [AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr, D. & G. krank sick, weak (cf.D. krengen to careen). Cf. Crank, n.]

1. Sick; infirm. [Prov. Eng.]

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Liable to careen or be overest, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail.

3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty. Udall. If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it. Mrs. Stowe.

CRANK Crank, v. i. Etym: [See Crank, n. ]

Defn: To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. See how this river comes me cranking in. Shak.

CRANKBIRD Crank"bird` (-brd`), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European woodpecker (Picus minor).

CRANKED Cranked (krnkt), a.

Defn: Formed with, or having, a bend or crank; as, a cranked axle.

CRANKINESS Crank"i*ness (krnk"-ns), n.

Defn: Crankness. Lowell.

CRANKLE Cran"kle (krn"k'l), v. t. Etym: [Cf. Crinkle.]

Defn: To break into bends, turns, or angles; to crinkle. Old Veg's stream . . . drew her humid train aslope, Crankling her banks. J. Philips.

CRANKLE Cran"kle, v. i.

Defn: To bend, turn, or wind. Along the crankling path. Drayton.

CRANKLE Cran"kle, n.

Defn: A bend or turn; a twist; a crinkle.

CRANKNESS Crank"ness (krnk"ns), n.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: Liability to be overset; -- said of a ship or other vessel.

2. Sprightliness; vigor; health.

CRANKY Crank"y (-), a.

1. Full of spirit; crank.

2. Addicted to crotchets and whims; unreasonable in opinions; crotchety. [Colloq.]

3. Unsteady; easy to upset; crank.

CRANNIED Cran"nied (krn"nd), a.

Defn: Having crannies, chinks, or fissures; as, a crannied wall. Tennyson.

CRANNOG; CRANNOGE Cran"nog (krn"ng), Cran"noge (krn"nj), n. Etym: [From Celtic; cf. Gael. crann a tree.]

Defn: One of the stockaded islands in Scotland and Ireland which in ancient times were numerous in the lakes of both countries. They may be regarded as the very latest class of prehistoric strongholds, reaching their greatest development in early historic times, and surviving through the Middle Ages. See also Lake dwellings, under Lake. Encyc. Brit.

CRANNY Cran"ny (krn"n), n.; pl. Crannies (-n. Etym: [F. cran notch, prob. from L. crena (a doubful word).]

1. A small, narrow opening, fissure, crevice, or chink, as in a wall, or other substance. In a firm building, the cavities ought not to be filled with rubbish, but with brick or stone fitted to the crannies. Dryden. He peeped into every cranny. Arbuthnot.

2. (Glass Making)

Defn: A tool for forming the necks of bottles, etc.

CRANNY Cran"ny, v. i. [imp & p. p. Crannied (-nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Crannying.]

1. To crack into, or become full of, crannies. [R.] The ground did cranny everywhere. Golding.

2. To haunt, or enter by, crannies. All tenantless, save to the cranning wind. Byron.

CRANNY Cran"ny, a. Etym: [Perh. for cranky. See Crank, a. ]

Defn: Quick; giddy; thoughtless. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

CRANTARA Cran*ta"ra (krn-t"r or -t"r), n. Etym: [Gael. cranntara.]

Defn: The fiery cross, used as a rallying signal in the Highlands of Scotland.

CRANTS Crants (krnts), n. Etym: [Cf. D. krans, G. kranz.]

Defn: A garland carried before the bier of a maiden. [Obs.] Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, Her maaiden strewments. Shak.

CRAP Crap (krap), n.