Croak sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Croak sb. 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. Croak sb.

Also 8 croke. [See CROAK v.]

1

  1.  The deep hoarse sound made by a frog or raven. Also transf. and fig.

2

1561.  Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 225 b. They play the waterfrogs, singyng cronke croake.

3

1632.  Rowley, Woman never vext, III. in Hazl., Dodsley, XII. 160. O thou fatal raven! let me pull thine eyes out For this sad croak.

4

1766.  Pennant, Zool. (1812), II. 157. (Puffin Auk) The hoarse, deep, periodical croak of the corvorants.

5

1861.  Trollope, Barchester T., xliv. ‘I told you so, I told you so!’ is the croak of a true Job’s comforter.

6

  2.  Hawking. (See quot. 1891.) Also pl. (Cf. CROCK sb.4)

7

1707.  Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch (1710), 400. The Croke is evidently an Asthmatic Disposition produced by hard flying. Ibid., 401. The Noise called the Croke was made by Expiration and not by Inspiration.

8

1891.  Harting, Gloss. Falconry, Croaks, or Kecks, Fr. crac, a disease of the air-passages, analogous to a cough, and so called from the sound the bird makes during any exertion, such as bating, or flying.

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