‖n. [ NL., from Gr. 'a priv. + &unr_; skull. ] 1. (Physiol.) Partial or total absence of the skull. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. (Zool.) The lowest group of Vertebrata, including the amphioxus, in which no skull exists. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wanting a skull. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, goat + &unr_;, n. pl., heads. ] (Arch.) Sculptured ornaments, used in classical architecture, representing rams' heads or skulls. [ 1913 Webster ]

A lever whose two arms form a right angle, or nearly a right angle, having its fulcrum at the apex of the angle. It is used in bell pulls and in changing the direction of bell wires at angles of rooms, etc., and also in machinery. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. L. Bucrania [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_; ox head. ] A sculptured ornament, representing an ox skull adorned with wreaths, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Crane. ] 1. The liberty of using a crane, as for loading and unloading vessels. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The money or price paid for the use of a crane. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cranberries (-r&ibreve_;z). [ So named from its fruit being ripe in the spring when the cranes return. Dr. Prior. ] (Bot.) A red, acid berry, much used for making sauce, etc.; also, the plant producing it (several species of Vaccinum or Oxycoccus.) The high cranberry or cranberry tree is a species of Viburnum (Viburnum Opulus), and the other is sometimes called low cranberry or marsh cranberry to distinguish it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a deciduous thicket-forming Old World shrub (Viburnum opulus) with clusters of white flowers and small bright red berries. It is sometimes called high cranberry to distinguish it from the marsh cranberry or low cranberry.
Syn. -- guelder rose, European cranberrybush, European cranberry bush, crampbark, Viburnum opulus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. See Craunch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. from Crandall, a proper name. ] (Stonecutting) A kind of hammer having a head formed of a group of pointed steel bars, used for dressing ashlar, etc. -- v. t. To dress with a crandall. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ , n. [ Scot., fr. Gael. crann. ] A measure for fresh herrings, -- as many as will fill a barrel. [ Scot. ] H. Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan, G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. ge`ranos, L. grus, W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav&ibreve_;, Lith. gerve, Icel. trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. √24. Cf. Geranium. ] 1. (Zool.) A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common European crane is Grus cinerea. The sand-hill crane (Grus Mexicana) and the whooping crane (Grus Americana) are large American species. The Balearic or crowned crane is Balearica pavonina. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and cormorants. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end, used for supporting a suspended weight. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of Derrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Zool.) The American blue heron (Ardea herodias). [ Local, U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Crane fly (Zool.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of the genus Tipula. --
Derrick crane. See Derrick. --
Gigantic crane. (Zool.) See Adjutant, n., 3. --
Traveling crane,
Traveler crane,
Traversing crane (Mach.), a crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead crane consisting of a crab or other hoisting apparatus traveling on rails or beams fixed overhead, as in a machine shop or foundry. --
Water crane, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout, for filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with water. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Craned p. pr. & vb. n. Craning. ] 1. To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with up. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

What engines, what instruments are used in craning up a soul, sunk below the center, to the highest heavens. Bates. [ 1913 Webster ]

An upstart craned up to the height he has. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck disdainfully. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better; as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap. Beaconsfield. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

The passengers eagerly craning forward over the bulwarks. Howells. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Bot.) The geranium; -- so named from the long axis of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane. Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Surg.) A pair of long-beaked forceps. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Krang. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. shrimps.
Syn. -- family Crangonidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL. ] (Zool.) A genus of living Brachiopoda; -- so called from its fancied resemblance to the cranium or skull. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the cranium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cranium + Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to break. ] (Med.) The crushing of a child's head, as with the cranioclast or craniotomy forceps in cases of very difficult delivery. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) An instrument for crushing the head of a fetus, to facilitate delivery in difficult eases. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the cranium and face; as, the craniofacial angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cranium + Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. to know. ] The science of the form and characteristics of the skull. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to craniology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One proficient in craniology; a phrenologist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cranium + -logy. ] The department of science (as of ethnology or archæology) which deals with the shape, size, proportions, indications, etc., of skulls; the study of skulls. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cranium + -meter. ] An instrument for measuring the size of skulls. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to craniometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art or act of measuring skulls. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One skilled in, or who practices, cranioscopy. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was found of equal dimension in a literary man whose skull puzzied the cranioscopists. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cranium + -scopy. ] Scientific examination of the cranium. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. cranium. ] (Zool.) A comprehensive division of the Vertebrata, including all those that have a skull. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cranium + Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to cut off. ] (Med.) The operation of opening the fetal head, in order to effect delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Craniums (-&unr_;mz), L. Crania [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;; akin to ka`ra head. ] The skull of an animal; especially, that part of the skull, either cartilaginous or bony, which immediately incloses the brain; the brain case or brainpan. See Skull. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe, cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, “to turn, twist.” See Cringe. ] 1. (Mach.) A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. [ 1913 Webster ]

So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A sick person; an invalid. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater. Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crank axle (Mach.), a driving axle formed with a crank or cranks, as in some kinds of locomotives. --
Crank pin (Mach.), the cylindrical piece which forms the handle, or to which the connecting rod is attached, at the end of a crank, or between the arms of a double crank. --
Crank shaft, a shaft bent into a crank, or having a crank fastened to it, by which it drives or is driven. --
Crank wheel, a wheel acting as a crank, or having a wrist to which a connecting rod is attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr, D. & G. krank sick, weak (cf. D. krengen to careen). Cf. Crank, n. ] 1. Sick; infirm. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. [ 1913 Webster ]

He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it. Mrs. Stowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ See Crank, n. ] To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. [ 1913 Webster ]

See how this river comes me cranking in. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small European woodpecker (Picus minor). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the housing for a crankshaft and connecting parts in an internal-combustion engine. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Formed with, or having, a bend or crank; as, a cranked axle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Crankness. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bend or turn; a twist; a crinkle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. Crinkle. ] To break into bends, turns, or angles; to crinkle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Old Veg's stream . . . drew her humid train aslope,
Crankling her banks. J. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To bend, turn, or wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Along the crankling path. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Naut.) Liability to be overset; -- said of a ship or other vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sprightliness; vigor; health. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Full of spirit; crank. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Addicted to crotchets and whims; unreasonable in opinions; crotchety. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Unsteady; easy to upset; crank. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having crannies, chinks, or fissures; as, a crannied wall. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ From Celtic; cf. Gael. crann a tree. ] One of the stockaded islands in Scotland and Ireland which in ancient times were numerous in the lakes of both countries. They may be regarded as the very latest class of prehistoric strongholds, reaching their greatest development in early historic times, and surviving through the Middle Ages. See also Lake dwellings, under Lake. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Crannies [ F. cran notch, prob. from L. crena (a doubful word). ] 1. A small, narrow opening, fissure, crevice, or chink, as in a wall, or other substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a firm building, the cavities ought not to be filled with rubbish, but with brick or stone fitted to the crannies. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

He peeped into every cranny. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Glass Making) A tool for forming the necks of bottles, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Crannied p. pr. & vb. n. Crannying. ] 1. To crack into, or become full of, crannies. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The ground did cranny everywhere. Golding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To haunt, or enter by, crannies. [ 1913 Webster ]

All tenantless, save to the crannying wind. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]