n.; pl. Crutches [ OE. crucche, AS. crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G. krücke, Dan. krykke, Sw. krycka, and to E. crook. See Crook, and cf. Cricket a low stool. ] 1. A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone. H. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) (a) A knee, or piece of knee timber. (b) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch. See Crotch. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To support on crutches; to prop up. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Supported upon crutches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ See Crouch, v. t., and Crouched, a. ] Marked with the sign of the cross; crouched. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crutched friar (Eccl.), one of a religious order, so called because its members bore the sign of the cross on their staves and habits; -- called also crossed friar and crouched friar. [ 1913 Webster ]