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cranes

 - 3 dictionary results

crane

[kreyn] noun, verb, craned, cran⋅ing.
–noun
1. any large wading bird of the family Gruidae, characterized by long legs, bill, and neck and an elevated hind toe.
2. (not used scientifically) any of various similar birds of other families, as the great blue heron.
3. Machinery. a device for lifting and moving heavy weights in suspension.
4. any of various similar devices, as a horizontally swinging arm by a fireplace, used for suspending pots over the fire.
5. Movies, Television. a vehicle having a long boom on which a camera can be mounted for taking shots from high angles.
6. Nautical. any of a number of supports for a boat or spare spar on the deck or at the side of a vessel.
7. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Grus.
–verb (used with object)
8. to hoist, lower, or move by or as by a crane.
9. to stretch (the neck) as a crane does.
–verb (used without object)
10. to stretch out one's neck, esp. to see better.
11. to hesitate at danger, difficulty, etc.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE cran; c. G Kran, Gk géranos
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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crane   (krān)   
n.  
    1. Any of various large wading birds of the family Gruidae, having a long neck, long legs, and a long bill.

    2. A similar bird, such as a heron.

  1. A machine for hoisting and moving heavy objects by means of cables attached to a movable boom.

  2. Any of various devices with a swinging arm, as in a fireplace for suspending a pot.

v.   craned, cran·ing, cranes

v.   tr.
  1. To hoist or move with or as if with a crane.

  2. To strain and stretch (the neck, for example) in order to see better.

v.   intr.
  1. To stretch one's neck toward something for a better view.

  2. To be irresolute; hesitate.


[Middle English, from Old English cran; see gerə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

crane 
O.E. cran "large wading bird," from PIE *ger- (cf. Gk. geranos, Welsh garan, Lith. garnys "heron, stork"), perhaps echoic of its cry. Metaphoric use for "machine with a long arm" is first attested 1299. Verb meaning "to stretch (the neck)" is from 1799.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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