Crassipedia 
framed for the Tubtcolte, I'holadariti, Solenacea, 
and Mijinria. 
Crassitherium (kras-i-the'ri-um), . [NL., < 
L. crdKKux, thick, + Gr. 6>n>iov, a wild beast, < 
%), a wild beast.] A genus of fossil sireuians, 
founded by Van Beueden upon a part of a skull 
discovered in Belgium. 
crassitude (kras'i-tud), . [< L. crassitudo, < 
rniHHim, thick: sec </</..] Coarseness; thick- 
ness ; deuseuess. [Rare.] 
The greuU-r I'raxxitmtf unit gravity of sea-water. 
H'iKKlininl, I'M. toward* ;l Nat. Hist, of the Earth. 
crassly (kras'li), adv. In a crass manner; 
coarsely; grossly; stupidly; ignorantly. 
EVUII the workingnian instinctively re-acttt :i-:iin-t the 
narrow in'.; Irmlftieiesof luachine-work and special skilled 
employment, and speculates wittily anil r/YiMtli/ about po- 
litical, social, or religioiia problems. 
O. S. Hall, Oerman Culture, p. 302. 
crassness (kras ' nes), n. The quality of be- 
ing crass ; coarseness ; thickness ; denseness ; 
heaviness; grossness; stupidity. 
The ethereal body contracts cramnru, . . . as the Im- 
material faculties abate In their exercise. 
aianrilli-, lYc-cxintouce of Souls, p. 118. 
Crassula (kras'u-lft), n. [NL. (so called in ref- 
erence to their thick, succulent leaves), dim. 
of L. crassuM, thick: see crags.'] A genus of 
plants, natural order Crassulaeete, consisting of 
succulent herbs and shrubs, chiefly natives of 
South Africa. Various species are cultivated 
for the beauty of their flowers and for bedding 
purposes. 
Crassulacese (kras-u-la'sS-e), n. pi. [NL., < 
Crassula + -acca.] The'houseleek family, a 
natural order of polypetalous exogens. It con- 
8ists of succulent plants with herbaceous or shrubby 
stems and annual or perennial roots, growing in hot, dry, 
exposed places In the more temperate parts of the world, 
hut chiefly in Houth Africa. Many species of Crastmla, 
Rochea, Semitervieum, Srtlum, aim Cotyledon are culti- 
vated for their showy flowers and especially for bedding 
effects. Tin- American species lielong mostly to the genera 
Sedum and Cotyledon, and are especially abundant on the 
western side of the continent. 
crassulaceous (kras-u-la'shius), a. Belonging 
to or characteristic of the order Crassulacea!. 
crastinationt (kras-ti-na'shon), n. [< ML. cras- 
tinatio(n-), in sense of ' holiday,' but lit. a put- 
ting off till to-morrow, < L. crastinus, of to-mor- 
row, < eras, to-morrow. Cf. procrastination.] 
Procrastination ; delay. 
-crat. See -cracy. 
CrataegUS (kra-te'gus), n. [NL., < Or. upd-raiyoc,, 
a kind of flowering thorn.] A rosaceous genus 
of trees and shrubs, of about 30 species, natives 
of northern temperate regions, and about equal- 
ly divided between North America and the old 
world. All are armed with short woody spines, and are 
hence commonly known as thorns. The fruit, called a 
li'H". containing several hard, !>ony cells, is often edible. 
The wood is heavy, hard, and close-grained. The haw- 
thorn, C. Oxyacantha of Europe, is often cultivated for 
ornament, iti several varieties, and Is largely used for 
hedges, etc. Other species are sometimes cultivated. See 
torn. 
Crataeva (kra-te'vS), . [NL., after Gr. Kpa- 
Teiiif, L. Crattevas, name of a Greek herbalist.] 
A genus of East and West Indian plants, natural 
order Capparidacea. The fruit of C. gynandra has 
a peculiar alliaceous odor, whence it has received the 
name of garlic-pear. 
cratch 1 1 (krach), v. t. [< ME. cratchen, cracch- 
en, scratch, prob. for "cratsen, = Sw. kratsii 
= Dan. kraase, scratch, scrape, claw, = Icel. 
krassa, scrawl, = MD. kratsen, kretscn, D. kras- 
sen = MLG. LG. kratzen, krassen. scratch, 
scrape, all prob. (the E. and Scand. through 
LG.) < OHG. chrazzon, chrazon, crayon, MHO. 
krafa'H, krrtzru, Q. kratzen (> It. grattare = 8p. 
Pg. grattar = F. gratter, > E. grate : see grate*), 
scratch, scrape, = Sw. kratta = Dan. krattc, 
scratch, scrape (perhaps also from G., after the 
I;. mi. forms); cf. Icel. Icrota, engrave, orna- 
ment. The OHG. chrazzon is perhaps orig. 
Teut., but is derived by some from LL. charax- 
are, ML. caraxare, < Gr. ;tapd<T<7v,Bcratch, en- 
grave: see character. In mod. E. cratch 1 is 
represented by scratch, q. v.] To scratch. 
With that other paw hym was cracching 
All hys Aminre he to-breke and tere, 
So Imth on an hepe till, lH>tll knyght and bere. 
limn, nj 1'tirl, ,i,ii/ (E. E. T. S.), 1. 6892. 
cratch'-'t (krach). . [< ME. cratclie, cracche, 
I'ri/'i-lii; < OK. i-n clif. a crib, manger, F. creche, a 
crib, manger, rack, = 1'r. i-rc/tcha, crepia = It. 
iiri'/>i>iit, < OHO. ri-i/i/irt, t-hriplia, for *c/i rii>/>j<t, 
MHO. (J. kri/i/M'. a crib, = E. erib, of which 
crutch- is tlnm ult. a doublet.] 1. A grated 
crib or manger. 
1335 
Hi- i-ncraillcil was 
In simple cratch, wrapt In a watl of liar. 
Spenter, Hymn uf II. -avi-nly lre, 1. 226. 
I was laid In the cratch, 1 was wrapped in swathllng- 
cloathi. llaJce.mil, Apology. 
2. A rack or open framework. 
In Bengo and Coanza they are forced to set rp, (or a 
time, houses vp.ni rratehn, tlu-ir other houses being taken 
vp for the Riuers lodgings. I'vrchtu, riluritnayr. p. II'.N'I. 
cratch-cradle (krach'kra'dl), . [< era Hi- + 
cradle; but prob. an accom. of cafs-cradle, 
q. v.l Same as cat's-cradle. 
cratches (kracVez). n.pl. [PI. of 'cratch 1 , n., 
< cratch 1 , r., after G. kratze, the itch, cratches, 
< kratzen, scratch : see cratch 1 .'] A swelling on 
the pastern, under the fetlock, and sometimes 
under the hoof, of a horse. 
crate (krat), n. [< L. cratis, wickerwork, a 
hurdle ; akin to cradle and hurdle, q. v. Doub- 
let grate*.] 1. A kind of basket or hamper 
of wickerwork, used for the transportation of 
china, glass, crockery, and similar wares; hence, 
any openwork casing, as a box made of Mats 
used for packing or transporting commodities, 
as peaches. 
A quantity of olives, and two large vessels of wine, which 
she placed in the crate, saying to the porter. Take it up, 
and follow me. Arabian flights (tr. by LaneX I. 121. 
2. The amount held by such a casing, 
crater (kra'ter), . [= F. tratfre = Sp. cra- 
ter = Pg. cratera = It. era tere, cratera = D. G. 
Dan. krater, a crater (def. 2), < L. crater, a 
bowl, < Gr. K/xtT/tp, a vessel in which wiuo was 
mixed with water, a basin (in a rock), the crater 
of a volcano, < ntpawvvai (^ **y>o), mix.] 1. 
pi. eratereg (krii- 
te'rez). Inelan- 
siral miiii/.. a 
large vessel or 
vase in which 
water was mix- 
ed with wine 
according to 
accepted for- 
mulas, and 
from which it 
was dipped out 
and served to 
the guests in the 
smaller pour- 
ing-vessels (oi- 
nochoe). The 
typical form of the 
crater is open and liell-like, witli a foot, and a small han- 
dle placed very low on either side. Many lieautiful (Ireek 
examples are preserved, especially in the retl-ttgured pot- 
tery. Also written krater. Compare oxybaphon. 
Very interesting is the group of vases, a crater, two am- 
phoric, and numerous howls. 
C. 0. UHller, Manual of Archicol. (trans.), J 301. 
A fine early Corinthian crater, found atCrereand now In 
the Louvre, with black figures representing Heracles feast- 
ing with Eurytlus. I:', ,-. Brit., XIX. 610. 
2. Ill geol., the cup-shaped depression or cavity 
of a volcano, forming the orince through which 
the erupted material finds its way to the sur- 
face, or has done so in former times if the vol- 
cano is at present extinct or dormant. Such a 
depression is usually surrounded by a pile of ashes and 
volcanic debris, which forms the cone. Some craters have 
a very regular form ; others are lubken down more or less 
on one side. 
3. Mitit., a cavity formed by the explosion of 
a military mine. 4f. Any hollow made in the 
earth by subterranean forces. [Rare.] 
Then the Crater* or breaches made In the earth by hor- 
rible earthquakes, caused by the violent eruptions of Fire, 
shall be wide enough to swallow up not only Cities but 
whole Countries. StiUintrjteet, Sermons, I. xi. 
5. |''"y.] An ancient southern constellation 
south of Leo and 
Virgo. It is supposed 
to represent a vase 
with two handles and 
a base. 6. In elect., 
a hollow cavity 
formed in the posi- 
tive carbon of an arc- 
lamp when contin- 
uous currents are 
used. 
cratera (kra-te'rii), 
n. ; pi. cratera' (-re). 
[L., a fern, form of 
crater, a basin: see 
crater.] In lx>t., the 
cup-shaped receptacle of certain lichens and 
tnagi 
crateral (kra'ter-al), n. [< cratir + -til.] Of, 
pertaining to, or of the nature of the crater of 
a volcano. 
cravat 
After a volcano has long Id-en silent and the large crater 
has been moraorlessfllleo!, . . . renewal of activity through 
the old i -111111111 -I may give rise to the formation of a new 
cone seated within tin- old crateral hollow. 
Huxley, Physiography, p. I'M. 
crateres, . Plural of crater, 1. 
crateriform (kra-ter'i-f6rm), a. [= F. crateri- 
fiirini , < L. crater, a crater, + forma, shape.] 
Having the form of a crater ; conically hollowed ; 
formed like a wine-glass without the base, or 
nearly like an inverted truncate cone with an 
excavated base. As specifically used In entomology, 
it differs from rttltilhifnrnt in implying less dilated sides, 
and from i nfii ml ibultform in implying a less deep and 
regular hollow. In Itotany It signifies basin- or saucer- 
shaped. 
This hill (in St. Jago) Is conical, 450 feet in height, and 
retains some traces of having had a erateri/ariii structure. 
Darurin, Ueol. Observations, I. 11. 
craterlet (kra'ter-let), . [< crater + -let.} A 
small crater. 
Later a little pit or craterlet made Its appearance |on the 
midjii |, less than a mile in diameter, according to the first 
observations ; still later, towards the end of 18o7, it had 
grown larger and was aljout two miles In diameter. 
New Princeton Rev., \. 67. 
Ten Mile Hill, half-way Idjtween Charleston and sum 
mervllle, developed craterletit and " craterifonii " orifices. 
Jour. Franklin Intl., CXXII. 3t*. 
Crateropodidse (kra'te-ro-pod'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < t'rateroinis (-;>/-)'+ -idte.] A family 
of oscine passerine birds of the old world, of 
which the genus Crateropus is the leading one. 
lliey include the most typical babblers, notable for their 
large, clumsy feet and claws, and strong, rounded wings ; 
but In inanyrespecU they resemble thrushes, and neither 
nor the position of 
the family is set- 
tled. These birds, 
as a rule, are grega- 
rious, and not g<d>d 
songsters. 
Crateropus 
( kra-ter'o-pus) , 
n. [NL.,' < Gr. 
KparrpAc,, strong, 
stout, + Jroi'C 
Crater of Eiiph 
Creek r 
tr.i trrefm plebtiut. 
A genus of chief- 
ly African os- 
cine passerine 
birds, known as 
babblers, and 
commonly re- 
ferred to the 
family Pycnono- 
tida; as type of a subfamily t'rateronodince, or 
giving name to a family ('rateropoaidir. As at 
present used, the genus includes 15 species, ranging through 
Africa beyond the Sahara and In India. I he example tin 
urcd is a dark race of C. plebeitut from the /.uinbe/i. 
craterous (kra'ter-us), a. [< crater + -ous.~\ 
Belonging to or like a crater. R. Browning. 
[Rare.] 
-cratic, -cratical. See -cracy. 
Cratinean (kra-tin'e-an), a. and n. [< Gr. Kpa- 
Tivtiof, < K/xiTlvnc., L.' cVoWMW.] I. a. Of orper- 
taining to the Greek comic poet Cratinus, who 
lived about 520-423 B. c. : as, Cratinean verse 
or meter. 
II. H. A logaoedic meter frequent in Greek 
comedy, composed of a first Glyconic and a 
trochaic tetrapody catalectic, the first foot of 
the latter being treated like a basis that is, 
having both syllables common : thus, 
The Comtellatjon Crater. From 
rtolemy's description. 
See Eupolidean, n. 
craumpisht, . t. Same as cramjnsti. 
craunch (kriinch), r. (. [Also written cranch, 
and in other forms, due to imitative variation, 
crunch, scrunch, scrunch, q. v.] To crush with 
the teeth ; crunch. See crunch. 
She can cranck 
A sack of small-coal, eat you lime and hair. 
II. Jonnon, Magnetick Lady, I. 1. 
She would craunch the wings of a lark, bones and all, 
lietween her teeth. 
Sir/ft, Gulliver's Travels, Hroldlingnag. ill. 
cravantt, . An obsolete form of craven. 
cravat (kra- vat '),* [Also formerly crabbat ; 
= G. crarate, < F. cravate (= It. craratta. cro- 
attti), a cravat, so called because adopted (ac- 
cording to Menage, in 1636) from the <'ravatr.i 
or Croats in the French military service, < Cra- 
niti. a Croat: see Croat.] A neckcloth; a 
piece of muslin, silk, or other material worn 
about the neck, generally outside a linen col- 
lar, by men, and less frequently by women. 
\\ bi-n first intn winced, it was commonly of lace, or of linen 
etlged with lace. At the Ireginningof the seventeenth cen- 
tury it was worn very lonu. ami it is often seen in pictures 
passed through the buttonhole of the coat or waistcoat. 
