Definition of "crutch"

crutch

/kɹʌt͡ʃ/

noun
plural crutches
1. A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.
  Quotations
  I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other.
  c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]
2. Something that supports, often used negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency; a prop
  Quotations
  Rhyme […] is […] at best a crutch that lifts the weak alone.
  1710, Edmund Smith, A poem on the death of Mr. John Philips
3. A crotch; the area of body where the legs fork from the trunk.
4. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
5. (nautical) A knee, or piece of knee timber.
6. (nautical) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch.
verb
third-person singular simple present crutches, present participle crutching, simple past and past participle crutched
1. (transitive) To support on crutches; to prop up.
  Quotations
  [I'll] haſten Og and Doeg to rehearſe, / Two Fools that Crutch their Feeble Senſe on Verſe; / Who by my Muſe to all ſucceeding times, / Shall live in ſpight of their own Dogrell Rhimes.
  1682, [Nahum Tate; John Dryden], The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], page 13
2. (intransitive) To move on crutches.
3. (transitive) To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.
  Quotations
  After learning how to crutch at 13, he could dag 400 sheep in a day by the spring of 1965 and earned himself more than just a bit of pocket money.
  2010 January 29, Emma Partridge, “Richie Foster a cut above the rest”, in Stock Journal‎
4. (transitive, in soap-making) to stir with a crutch.

Definition of "crutch"

crutch

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations