a forked support for a boom or spar when not in use.
b.
a forked support for an oar on the sides or stern of a rowboat.
c.
a horizontal knee reinforcing the stern frames of a wooden vessel.
7.
a forked device on the left side of a sidesaddle, consisting of two hooks, one of which is open at the bottom and serves to clamp the left knee and the other of which is open at the top and serves to support the right knee.
–verb (used with object)
8.
to support on crutches; prop; sustain.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME crucche, OE cryce (obl. crycce); c. Norw krykkja, Dan krykke, G Krücke, D kruk.See crook1]
Crick"et\, n. [AS. cricc, crycc, crooked staff, crutch. Perh. first used in sense 1, a stool prob. having been first used as a wicket. See Crutch.]1. A low stool. 2. A game much played in England, and sometimes in America, with a ball, bats, and wickets, the players being arranged in two contesting parties or sides. 3. (Arch.) A small false roof, or the raising of a portion of a roof, so as to throw off water from behind an obstacle, such as a chimney.
Crook\ (kr[oo^]k), n. [OE. crok; akin to Icel. kr[onac]kr hook, bend, SW. krok, Dan. krog, OD. krooke; or cf. Gael. crocan crook, hook, W. crwca crooked. Cf. Crosier, Crotchet, Crutch, Encroach.]1. A bend, turn, or curve; curvature; flexure. Through lanes, and crooks, and darkness. --Phaer. 2. Any implement having a bent or crooked end. Especially: (a) The staff used by a shepherd, the hook of which serves to hold a runaway sheep. (b) A bishop's staff of office. Cf. Pastoral staff. He left his crook, he left his flocks. --Prior. 3. A pothook. "As black as the crook." --Sir W. Scott. 4. An artifice; trick; tricky device; subterfuge. For all yuor brags, hooks, and crooks. --Cranmer. 5. (Mus.) A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet, horn, etc., to change its pitch or key. 6. A person given to fraudulent practices; an accomplice of thieves, forgers, etc. [Cant, U.S.] By hook or by crook, in some way or other; by fair means or foul.
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