From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Crutch \Crutch\, v. t.
To support on crutches; to prop up. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Crutch \Crutch\ (kr[u^]ch; 224), n.; pl. {Crutches} (-[e^]z).
[OE. crucche, AS. crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G.
kr["u]cke, 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]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Crotch \Crotch\ (kr[o^]ch; 224), n.; pl. {Crotches}
(kr[o^]ch"[e^]z). [Cf. {Crotchet}, {Crutch}.]
1. The angle formed by the parting of two legs or branches; a
fork; the point where a trunk divides; as, the crotch of a
tree. more specifically, the space on the human torso
between the two legs; also, the corresponding part between
the legs of a pair of pants, which is in contact with the
crotch of the wearer; as, pants with a tight crotch have
become very popular.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. (Naut.) A stanchion or post of wood or iron, with two arms
for supporting a boom, spare yards, etc.; -- called also
{crane} and {crutch}. --Totten.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Billiards) In the three-ball carom game, a small space at
each corner of the table. See {Crotched}, below.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
crutch
n 1: a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and
reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while
walking
2: anything that serves as an expedient; "he uses drugs as a
psychological crutch"
|