Crutch Definition

krŭch
crutches
noun
Any of various devices used, often in pairs, by lame people as an aid in walking; typically, a staff with a hand grip and a padded crosspiece on top that fits under the armpit.
Webster's New World
Something on which one depends, often excessively.
A mnemonic crutch.
American Heritage
Anything one leans or relies on for support, help, etc.; prop.
Webster's New World
Any device that resembles a crutch.
Webster's New World
A forked support for a spar when the sail is furled.
Webster's New World
verb
To move using a crutch or crutches.
American Heritage Medicine
To support with or as with a crutch or crutches; prop up.
Webster's New World
To support on crutches; to prop up.
Wiktionary

To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Crutch

Noun

Singular:
crutch
Plural:
crutches

Origin of Crutch

  • From Middle English crucche, from Old English cryċċ (“crutch, staff”), from Proto-Germanic *krukjō (“crutch, staff”), from Proto-Indo-European *grewg- (“wrinkle, bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate with Scots curche, crutch (“crutch, stilts”), Dutch kruk (“crutch”), Low German krukke, Krück (“crutch”), German Krücke (“crutch”), Swedish krycka (“crutch”). Latin crucia, crucca, croccia, crocia (“crutch”), and its descendants are ultimately from the Germanic.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English crucche from Old English crycc

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Crutch Is Also Mentioned In

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