CRUTCH

crutch

(noun) anything that serves as an expedient; “he uses drugs as a psychological crutch”

crutch

(noun) a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

crutch (plural crutches)

A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.

Something that supports, often used negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency; a prop

A crotch; the area of body where the legs fork from the trunk.

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

(nautical) A knee, or piece of knee timber.

(nautical) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch.

(heraldry) A type of cross formed from two C-shapes joined back to back.

Verb

crutch (third-person singular simple present crutches, present participle crutching, simple past and past participle crutched)

(transitive) To support on crutches; to prop up.

(intransitive) To move on crutches.

(transitive) To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.

(transitive) To stir with a crutch (in soap making)

Source: Wiktionary


Crutch (krch; 224), n.; pl. Crutches (-. Etym: [OE. cruche, AS. crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G. kr, 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. I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other. Shak. Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone. H. Smith.

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

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

Crutch, v. t.

Definition: To support on crutches; to prop up. [R.] Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse. Dryden.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

11 March 2025

CATECHISM

(noun) an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answers


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Coffee Trivia

Plain brewed coffee contains almost no calories, while coffee with dairy products, sugar, and other flavorings is much higher in calories. An espresso has 20 calories. A nonfat latte has 72, while a flavored one has 134.

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