Cran2. World English Historical Dictionary

Cran2. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Cran2

Sc. [A Scotch form of the word CRANE.]

1

  † 1.  Applied formerly to the crane and the heron. Obs. (See Jamieson Suppl.)

2

  2.  The ordinary name of the Swift in the south of Scotland.

3

1840.  [Remembered in actual use].

4

1861.  J. C. Atkinson, Brit. Birds’ Eggs, 69. Swift (Cypselus apus): Deviling, Black Martin, Screech … Cran.

5

1880.  Berw. Nat. Club, 230. The Swift called ‘Cran.’

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  3.  ‘An iron instrument, laid across the fire, reaching from the ribs of the grate to the hinder part of it, for the purpose of supporting a pot or kettle’ (Jamieson).

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  4.  To coup the crans: fig. to have an upset, come to grief; see COUP v.3 2. (By Jamieson referred to sense 3; but perh. belonging to CRAN1.)

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a. 1796.  Burns, Answ. Poet. Epist., v. Garren lasses cowp the cran Clean heels owre body.

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1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xix. The trades … offered downright battle to the commons, rather than their kirk should coup the crans.

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