CRUTCHING
Verb
crutching
present participle of crutch
Source: Wiktionary
CRUTCH
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