C R A 2 



tree, and also the fruit of that tree. 4. 



In mechanics, a machine with three claws, 

 used to launch ships and heave them into 

 the dock ; also a wooden pillar somewhat 

 resembling a small capstan, and used for 

 the same purposes. 



CRAB'S CLAWS. In the materia medica, 

 the tips of the claws of the common crab 

 ( Cancer pagurus) ground. The powder is 

 used as an absorbent. 



CRAB'S EYES, concretions formed in the 

 stomach of the cray-nsh (Cancer astracus, 

 Lin.). They are round on one side and 

 depressed on the other, and not unlike 

 eyes. 



CRAB YAMS, a name in the "West Indies 

 for a kind of ulcer on the soles of the feet, 

 with callous lips so hard that they are 

 cut with difficulty. 



CRA'DLE, Sax. cradel, from K^aiooua, to 

 swing. 1. A moveable bed for rocking 



children and infirm persons to sleep. 



2. A frame of timber placed under the 

 bottom of a ship, to conduct her steadily 

 and smoothly into the water in launching 



her. 3. The name is sometimes used 



by architects and engineers in the same 

 sense ,as coffer (q. v.) ; and also to desig- 

 nate a centring of ribs and lattice for 

 turning culverts. 



CRA'DLING. In architecture, timberwork 

 to support the lath and plaster of ceilings, 

 or for supporting the entablature for a 

 shop front, &c. 



CRAO. In geology, a tertiary deposit of 

 the older pliocene period, which has ob- 

 tained this name from a provincial term 

 signifying gravel. It is divided into two 

 groups, the coralline or lower, and the 

 red or upper crag. 



CRAKE, the corn-crake (Rallus crex, 

 Lin.). Named from its cry, crek, crek. It 

 has been called the Quail-king, because it 

 arrives and departs with these birds, and 

 leads a solitary life on the same grounds, 

 from which arose the conjecture that it 

 was their leader. It feeds on grain, 

 worms, and insects. 



CRAM. In weaving, a warp having more 

 than two threads in each dent or split of 

 the reed. 



CRAMBE, the coletcort : a genus of plants. 

 TetradynamiaSiliculosa. The sea-kale 

 (C. maritima) grows wild on our shores, 

 and is cultivated for our tables. Name 

 m^mfAh cabbage. 



CRAME'RIA, a genus of plants. Tetran- 

 dria Monogynia. Named in honour of 

 two German botanists called Kramer. 

 The tree which affords the root called 

 rhatany is a Peruvian species of this 

 genus. 



CRAMP, Ger. Dut. 8w. krampe. 1. In 



medicine (see SPASM). 2. In building, a 



piece of iron or other metal bent at each 

 end, and inserted into contiguous parts of 



1 CR A 



a building, arch, &c., to hold them toge- 

 ther, and thus give additional strength to 

 the structure. 



CRAMP'FISH, the torpedo or electric eel. 



CRAMPOO'NS, three hooked pieces of iron 

 attached to the end of a rope or chain, for 

 drawing up stones, timber, &c. 



CRAN'BERRY, the red whortleberry, the 

 fruit of Vaccinttm oxycoccus, a moss plant 

 indigenous in Britain, but not plentiful. 

 Cranberries are chiefly imported from 

 Russia and North America. 



CRANE 1. In ornithology, a name com- 

 mon to all the species of the genus Grim, 



Lin. 2. In hydraulics, a popular name 



for the syphon employed to draw off 



liquids. 3. In mechanics, a machine for 



raising and lowering great weights, which 

 has been variously constructed according 

 to purposes intended to be accomplished, 

 and is consequently distinguished by va- 

 rious names, as the cellar crane, portable 

 stone crane, &c. Watt's jib beam is perhaps 

 the most advantageous in present use. 



CRANE'S-BILL, a name common to all 

 the plants of the genus Geranium. 



CRAN'QON, a species of crab (Cancer 

 crangon). 



CRAN'GON, Gr. x^etyyvi, a cray-flsh ; the 

 name of the Macrourous crustaceans, in- 

 cluding the common shrimp. 



CRANIOL'OOT, from xgottiov, the skull, 

 and hoyo;, discourse; the study of skulls, 

 as exhibited in the diversity of their si/e, 

 shape, and proportion of parts, of different 

 races of mankind. 



CRANIO'METER, from xgctviav, a skull, 

 and fAirgov, measure; an instrument for 

 measuring the cranial development of 

 man and other animals. 



CRANK, literally, a bend. Applied in 

 mechanics as the name of a square piece 

 projecting from a spindle, serving by its 

 motion to raise and fall the pistons of a 

 steam-engine, turn a wheel, &c. Crank 

 is also the name given to iron supports 

 of a lantern and the iron made fast to the 

 stock of a bell. Among seamen, crank 

 means liable to be upset, and is applied to 

 a ship of a narrow build, or which has not 

 sufficient ballast. 



CRAP'AUDINE DOORS, doors which turn 

 on pivots at the top and bottom. 



CRAPE, Fr. crfpe, Ger. krepp. A trans- 

 parent textile fabric, somewhat like 

 gauze, made of raw silk, gummed and 

 twisted at the mill. It is woven with 

 any tweel, and is either crisped (crept'} 

 or smooth. When dyed black it is worn 

 by ladies as a mourning dress. 



CRASS'AMENT, Lat. crassamentnm, from 

 cratttu, thick ; the glutinous coagulum of 

 the blood. 



CRASSATEL'LA, a genus of Mollusc*. 

 Family Mylitacea, order Accphala tettacea, 

 Cuv. Name dim. of missus, thick, tite 



