crutch

[ kruhch ]
See synonyms for crutch on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a staff or support to assist a lame or infirm person in walking, now usually with a crosspiece at one end to fit under the armpit.

  2. any of various devices resembling this in shape or use.

  1. anything that serves as a temporary and often inappropriate support, supplement, or substitute; prop: He uses liquor as a psychological crutch.

  2. a forked support or part.

  3. the crotch of the human body.

  4. Also crotch. Nautical.

    • a forked support for a boom or spar when not in use.

    • a forked support for an oar on the sides or stern of a rowboat.

    • a horizontal knee reinforcing the stern frames of a wooden vessel.

  5. 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)
  1. to support on crutches; prop; sustain.

Origin of crutch

1
before 900; Middle English crucche,Old English cryce (oblique crycce); cognate with Norwegian krykkja,Danish krykke,German Krücke,Dutch kruk.See crook1

Other words from crutch

  • crutchlike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for crutch

crutch

/ (krʌtʃ) /


noun
  1. a long staff of wood or metal having a rest for the armpit, for supporting the weight of the body

  2. something that supports or sustains: a crutch to the economy

  1. British another word for crotch (def. 1)

  2. nautical

    • a forked support for a boom or oar, etc

    • a brace for reinforcing the frames at the stern of a wooden vessel

verb
  1. (tr) to support or sustain (a person or thing) as with a crutch

  2. Australian and NZ slang to clip (wool) from the hindquarters of a sheep

Origin of crutch

1
Old English crycc; related to Old High German krucka, Old Norse krykkja; see crosier, crook

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012