%ranny%

n.; pl. Crannies [ F. cran notch, prob. from L. crena (a doubful word). ] 1. A small, narrow opening, fissure, crevice, or chink, as in a wall, or other substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a firm building, the cavities ought not to be filled with rubbish, but with brick or stone fitted to the crannies. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

He peeped into every cranny. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Glass Making) A tool for forming the necks of bottles, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Crannied p. pr. & vb. n. Crannying. ] 1. To crack into, or become full of, crannies. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The ground did cranny everywhere. Golding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To haunt, or enter by, crannies. [ 1913 Webster ]

All tenantless, save to the crannying wind. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Perh. for cranky. See Crank, a. ] Quick; giddy; thoughtless. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A grandmother; a grandam; familiarly, an old woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Granny's bend, or
Granny's knot (Naut.), a kind of insecure knot or hitch; a reef knot crossed the wrong way. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. araneus mus, a kind of small mouse. ] (Zool.) The erd shrew. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Scrannel. ] Thin; lean; meager; scrawny; scrannel. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. tirannye, OF. tirannie, F. tyrannie; cf. It. tirannia; Gr. tyranni`a, tyranni`s, L. tyrannis. See Tyrant. ] 1. The government or authority of a tyrant; a country governed by an absolute ruler; hence, arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government. [ 1913 Webster ]

“Sir, ” would he [ Seneca ] say, “an emperor mote need
Be virtuous and hate tyranny.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cruel government or discipline; as, the tyranny of a schoolmaster. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Severity; rigor; inclemency. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tyranny of the open night's too rough
For nature to endure. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]