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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Cran \Cran\ (kr[a^]n), Crane \Crane\ (kr[=a]n), n. [Scot., fr.
Gael. crann.]
A measure for fresh herrings, -- as many as will fill a
barrel. [Scot.] --H. Miller.
[1913 Webster]


Crane \Crane\ (kr[=a]n), n. [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan,
G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. ge`ranos, L. grus,
W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav[i^], Lith. gerve, Icel.
trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. [root]24. Cf. {Geranium}.]
1. (Zool.) A wading bird of the genus {Grus}, and allied
genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill,
and long legs and neck.
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Note: The common European crane is {Grus cinerea}. The
sand-hill crane ({Grus Mexicana}) and the whooping
crane ({Grus Americana}) are large American species.
The Balearic or crowned crane is {Balearica pavonina}.
The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons
and cormorants.
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2. Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end,
used for supporting a suspended weight.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

3. 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}.
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4. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side
or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over
a fire.
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5. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.
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6. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support
spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See {Crotch}, 2.
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7. (Zool.) The American blue heron ({Ardea herodias}).
[Local, U. S.]
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{Crane fly} (Zool.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of
the genus {Tipula}.

{Derrick crane}. See {Derrick}.

{Gigantic crane}. (Zool.) 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.
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Crane \Crane\ (kr[=a]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Craned}
(kr[=a]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Craning}.]
1. To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with
up. [R.]
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What engines, what instruments are used in craning
up a soul, sunk below the center, to the highest
heavens. --Bates.
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An upstart craned up to the height he has.
--Massinger.
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2. To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane
the neck disdainfully. --G. Eliot.
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crane \crane\, v. i.
to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better;
as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap.
--Beaconsfield. Thackeray.
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The passengers eagerly craning forward over the
bulwarks. --Howells.
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Crotch \Crotch\ (kr[o^]ch; 224), n.; pl. {Crotches}
(kr[o^]ch"[e^]z). [Cf. {Crotchet}, {Crutch}.]
1. The angle formed by the parting of two legs or branches; a
fork; the point where a trunk divides; as, the crotch of a
tree. more specifically, the space on the human torso
between the two legs; also, the corresponding part between
the legs of a pair of pants, which is in contact with the
crotch of the wearer; as, pants with a tight crotch have
become very popular.
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2. (Naut.) A stanchion or post of wood or iron, with two arms
for supporting a boom, spare yards, etc.; -- called also
{crane} and {crutch}. --Totten.
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3. (Billiards) In the three-ball carom game, a small space at
each corner of the table. See {Crotched}, below.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]