COWRIE, COWRY, kow'ri, _n._ a large genus of Gasteropods, including over a hundred species, some of which are familiar as decorative objects, and as a medium of exchange with uncivilised peoples. [Hindi _kaur[=i]_.]
COWSLIP, kow'slip, _n._ a beautiful and fragrant species of primrose, common in English pastures.--_adj._ COW'SLIP'D, covered with cowslips.
[A.S. _cu_, cow, _slyppe_, perh. cow-dung.]
COXCOMB, koks'k[=o]m, _n._ a strip of red cloth notched like a cock's comb, which professional fools used to wear: a fool: a fop.--_adjs._ COXCOM'BICAL, COXCOM'ICAL, foppish: vain.--_n._ COXCOMBICAL'ITY.--_adv._ COXCOM'BICALLY.--_n._ COX'COMBRY, the manner of a coxcomb. [COCKSCOMB.]
COXINESS, koks'i-nes, _n._ state of being cocksy, bumptiousness.
COXSWAIN, COCKSWAIN, kok'sw[=a]n, or kok'sn, _n._ a seaman who steers a boat, and under the superior officer takes charge of it. [COCK, a boat, and SWAIN.]
COY, koy, _adj._ modest: bashful: shy.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to caress: (_Shak._) to disdain.--_adj._ COY'ISH, somewhat coy.--_adv._ COY'ISHLY.--_n._ COY'ISHNESS.--_adv._ COY'LY.--_n._ COY'NESS. [Fr.
_coi_--L. _quietus_, quiet.]
COYOTE, ko-y[=o]t'e, _n._ a prairie wolf, abundant in Mexico and Texas.
[Mex. _coyotl_.]
COYPU, koi'p[=oo], _n._ a large rodent in the porcupine section of the order, common in South America--living in burrows near water, feeding on aquatic plants. [Native name.]
COYSTREL, COYSTRIL. Same as COISTRIL.
COZ, kuz, _n._ a contraction of COUSIN.
COZE, k[=o]z, _n._ (_Jane Austen_) a cosy chat.
COZEN, kuz'n, _v.t._ to flatter: to cheat.--_ns._ COZ'ENAGE, the practice of cheating: deceit; COZ'ENER. [Perh. from Fr. _cousiner_, to claim kindred for one's own advantage, play the parasite--_cousin_, a cousin.]
COZIER, COSIER, k[=o]'zi-[.e]r, _n._ a cobbler. [O. Fr. _cousere_--L.
_consu[)e]re_, to sew together.]
COZY. See COSY.
CRAB, krab, _n._ a popular name applied to any of the short-tailed division of decapod crustaceans: a sign in the zodiac: a portable winch: a sour-tempered person: the lowest throw at hazard--two aces.--_adj._ CRABB'ED, ill-natured: harsh: rough: difficult, perplexing.--_adv._ CRABB'EDLY.--_n._ CRABB'EDNESS.--_adj._ CRAB'-FACED, having a sour, peevish countenance.--_n._ CRAB'ITE, a fossil crab or crayfish.--_adj._ CRAB'-LIKE, moving like a crab.--_n._ CRAB'-LOUSE, a crab-shaped louse infesting the hair of the pubis, &c.--_n.pl._ CRAB'S'-EYES, the scarlet seeds of an East Indian bead-tree: a concretion of carbonate of lime in the stomach of the cray-fish.--_v.i._ CRAB'-S[=I]'DLE, to go sideways like a crab.--_n.pl._ CRAB'-YAWS, a name applied to the tumours of framboesia on the soles and palms.--CATCH A CRAB, in rowing, to sink the oar too deeply in the water: to miss the water altogether in making the stroke. [A.S. _crabba_; Ger.
_krabbe_.]
CRAB, krab, CRAB-APPLE, krab'-ap-l, _n._ a wild bitter apple.--_ns._ CRAB'-STICK, a stick made out of the crab-tree; CRAB'-TREE, the tree that bears crab-apples.--_adj._ like a crab-tree, crooked. [Perh. conn. with CRABBED.]
CRAB-OIL, CRAB-WOOD. See CARAPA.
CRABRO, kr[=a]'br[=o], _n._ the typical genus of _Crabronidae_, a family of fossorial hymenopters: a hornet. [L.]
CRACK, krak, _v.i._ to utter a sharp sudden sound: to split: to boast: to chat.--_v.t._ to produce a sudden noise: to break into chinks: to split: to break partially or wholly: to open (a bottle).--_n._ a sudden sharp splitting sound: a chink: a flaw: a blow, a smack: friendly chat: (_slang_) housebreaking: a craze: one who has a craze: a pert boy.--_adj._ (_coll._) excellent.--_n._ CRACK'-BRAIN, a crazy person.--_adjs._ CRACK'-BRAINED; CRACKED, rent: damaged: crazy.--_ns._ CRACK'ER, one who or that which cracks: a boaster, a lie: the pin-tail duck: (_U.S._) a thin crisp biscuit: a bonbon, or a small firework, exploding when pulled asunder: (_U.S._) a poor white; CRACK'-HALT'ER, CRACK'-HEMP (_Shak._), CRACK'-ROPE, one likely to be hanged.--_adj._ CRACK'-JAW, of a word, hard to pronounce.--_ns._ CRACKS'MAN, a burglar; CRACK'-TRYST, one who breaks an engagement.--CRACK CREDIT, to destroy one's credit; CRACK TRYST, to break an engagement; CRACK UP, to praise. [A.S. _cracian_, to crack; cf. Dut. _kraken_, Gael. _crac_.]
CRACK, krak, _n._ (_Scot._) a moment, an instant.
CRACKLE, krak'l, _v.i._ to give out slight but frequent cracks.--_n._ the giving out of slight cracks.--_ns._ CRACK'LIN, a kind of china-ware, purposely cracked in the kiln as an ornament; CRACK'LING, the rind of roast pork: (_pl._) skinny parts of suet without tallow: three stripes of velvet worn on the sleeves of students at St John's College, Cambridge.--_adj._ CRACK'LY, brittle.--_n._ CRACK'NEL, a light, brittle biscuit: (_pl._) pieces of fat pork fried crisp.
CRACOVIAN, kra-k[=o]'vi-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Cracow_.--_ns._ CRACOVIENNE', a graceful Polish dance, resembling the mazourka: the music for such; CRAC'OWE, a long-toed boot fashionable under Richard II.
CRADLE, kr[=a]'dl, _n._ a bed or crib in which children are rocked: (_fig._) infancy: the place where one is born and brought up: a frame in which anything is imbedded: a case for a broken limb: a frame under a ship for launching it: a box on rockers for washing auriferous dirt.--_v.t._ to lay or rock in a cradle: to nurture.--_adj._ CR[=A]'DLED, laid in a cradle.--_ns._ CR[=A]'DLE-SCYTHE, a broad scythe used in a cradle for cutting grain; CR[=A]'DLE-WALK, an avenue arched over with trees; CR[=A]'DLING.--FROM THE CRADLE, from birth, from the first. [A.S. _cradol_; ety. obscure.]
CRAFT, kraft, _n._ cunning: artifice: dexterity: art: trade: occupation: small ships.--_v.i._ to exercise one's craft (_Shak._, _Cor._, IV. vi.
118).--_adv._ CRAFT'ILY.--_n._ CRAFT'INESS.--_adj._ CRAFT'LESS, free from craft.--_ns._ CRAFTS'MAN, one engaged in a craft; CRAFTS'MANSHIP, CRAFT'MANSHIP; CRAFTS'MASTER, one skilled in a craft.--_adj._ CRAFT'Y, having skill: cunning: deceitful. [A.S. _craeft_; Ger. _kraft_, power.]
CRAG, krag, _n._ a rough steep rock or point: (_geol._) a bed of gravel mixed with shells.--_adjs._ CRAG'GED, CRAG'GY, full of crags or broken rocks: rough: rugged.--_ns._ CRAG'GEDNESS, CRAG'GINESS; CRAGS'MAN, one skilled in climbing rocks. [W. _craig_, a rock, _car-eg_, a stone; Gael.
_creag_, _carraig_.]
CRAG, CRAGGE, krag, _n._ the neck.--Scotch forms, CRAIG, CRAIG'IE. [Cf.
Dut. _kraag_, Ger. _kragen_, the neck.]
CRAKE, kr[=a]k, _v.i._ to utter a cry like a crow, &c.--_n._ CRAKE'-BERR'Y, the crow-berry.
CRAKE, kr[=a]k, _n._ a crow, raven, corncrake: (_obs._) a boast. [See CORNCRAKE.]
CRAM, kram, _v.t._ to press close: to stuff: to fill to superfluity: (_slang_) to make believe false or exaggerated tales: to teach for a special examination, only giving instruction useful for passing that examination.--_v.i._ to eat greedily: to get up a subject by cram:--_pr.p._ cram'ming; _pa.p._ crammed.--_n._ a crush: (_slang_) a lie: information that has been crammed: the system of cramming.--_adjs._ CRAM'-FULL; CRAM'MABLE; CRAMMED.--_n._ CRAM'MER, one who prepares students for examination by cramming them. [A.S. _crammian_; Ice. _kremja_, to squeeze; Dan. _kramme_, to crumple.]
CRAMBO, kram'bo, _n._ a game in which one gives a word to which another finds a rhyme: rime.--_ns._ CRAM'BOCLINK, -JINGLE, riming. [Prob. from L.
_crambe repetita_, cabbage served up again.]
CRAMBUS, kram'bus, _n._ a genus of pyralid moths, the veneers or grass-moths--family _Crambidae_, subfamily _Crambinae_. [Gr. _krambos_, dry.]
CRAME, kr[=a]m, _n._ (_Scot._) a booth for selling goods.
CRAMOISY, kram'oiz-i, CRAMESY, kram'ez-i, _adj._ and _n._ crimson. [See CRIMSON.]
CRAMP, kramp, _n._ an involuntary and painful contraction of a voluntary muscle or group of muscles: restraint: a piece of iron bent at the ends, for holding together wood, stone, &c.: a tool used by carpenters and others, having a movable part which can be screwed tight so as to press things together.--_adj._ hard to make out (used of handwriting): cramped: narrow.--_v.t._ to affect with spasms: to confine: to hinder: to fasten with a cramp-iron.--_ns._ CRAMP'BARK, the popular American name of the medicinal _Viburnum Oxycoccus_; CRAMP'-BONE, the patella of the sheep, an old charm for cramp; CRAMP'-FISH, the electric ray or torpedo; CRAMP'-[=I]'RON, a piece of metal bent at both ends for binding things together; CRAMP'ON, a grappling-iron: a pointed plate for the foot in hill-climbing; CRAMP'-RING, a ring formerly blessed by the sovereign on Good-Friday against cramp and the falling sickness.--_adj._ CRAMP'Y, affected or diseased with cramp: producing cramp.--BATHER'S CRAMP, the popular name for paralysis attacking a person while bathing; WRITER'S CRAMP, or _Scrivener's palsy_, a common disease affecting those in the habit of constant writing, the muscles refusing to obey only on attempting to write. [O. Fr. _crampe_; cf. Dut. _kramp_, Ger. _krampf_.]
CRAN, kran, _n._ a measure of capacity in Scotland for herrings when just taken out of the net. It amounts to 37 imperial gallons, and comprises about 750 herrings on an average.--COUP THE CRAN (_Scot._), to be upset.
[Prob. from Gael. _crann_, a measure.]
CRANBERRY, kran'ber-i, _n._ a genus of small evergreen shrubs growing in peaty bogs and marshy grounds: the berry much used for tarts. [For _crane-berry_; a late word; origin obscure; cf. Ger. _kranbeere_ or _kranich-beere_.]
CRANCH. Same as CRAUNCH.
CRANE, kr[=a]n, _n._ a large wading bird, with long legs, neck, and bill: a bent pipe for drawing liquor out of a cask: a machine for raising heavy weights--both named from their likeness to the bird.--_v.t._ to raise with a crane.--_v.i._ to stretch out the neck: to pull up before a jump.--_ns._ CRAN'AGE, the use of a crane: the price paid for the use of it; CRANE'-FLY, a genus of dipterous insects, nearly allied to the gnats, with very long legs.--_adj._ CRANE'-NECKED.--_n._ CRANE'S'-BILL, the Geranium, from a lengthened appendage of the seed-vessel. [A.S. _cran_; Ger. _kranich_, W.
_garan_.]
CRANE. Same as CRANIUM.
CRANIUM, kr[=a]'ni-um, _n._ the skull: the bones enclosing the brain.--_adj._ CR[=A]'NIAL, pertaining to the cranium.--_n._ CRANIOG'NOMY, cranial physiognomy.--_adj._ CRANIOLOG'ICAL.--_ns._ CRANIOL'OGIST, one skilled in craniology; CRANIOL'OGY, the study of skulls: phrenology; CRANIOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the skull; CRANIOM'ETRY, the measurement of skulls; CRANINOS'COPIST, a phrenologist; CRANIOS'COPY, phrenology; CRANIOT'OMY (_obstetrics_), the act of breaking down the head of the foetus. [Low L. _cranium_--Gr. _kranion_, from _kar[=e]_, the head.]
CRANK, krangk, _n._ a crook or bend: a conceit in speech: a whim: (_mach._) a lever or arm on a shaft, driven by hand or by a connecting-rod, its object being to convert reciprocating motion into rotary motion.--_v.i._ to move in a zizag manner.--_v.t._ to shape like a crank: to provide with a crank.--_adj._ crooked: crabbed: loose or slack.--_adv._ CRANK'ILY.--_n._ CRANK'INESS.--_adj._ CRANK'Y, crooked: infirm: full of whims: cross. [M. E.
_kranke_--A.S. _crincan_, to yield; cf. Ger. _krank_.]
CRANK, krangk, _adj._ brisk: merry. [Origin unknown.]
CRANK, krangk, CRANK-SIDED, krangk-s[=i]'ded, _adj._ (_naut._) liable to be upset--_n._ CRANK'NESS, liability to be upset. [Ety. uncertain.]
CRANKLE, krangk'l, CRINKLE, kringk'l, _n._ a turn, winding, or wrinkle, an angular protuberance.--_v.t._ to bend: to twist.