cross-valve 
cross-valve (kros'valv), n. A valve placed 
where two pipes intersect, or where a pipe di- 
verges into two rectangular branches. 
cross-vaulting (kros'var'ting), n. In arch., 
vaulting formed by the intersection of two or 
more simple vaults. When the vaults spring at the 
same level, anil rise to the same height, the cross-vaulting 
is termed a groin. 
cross-vine (kros'vm), n. The Bignonia capreo- 
lata of the southern United States, from the 
cross-like arrangement of medullary tissue, as 
shown in a transverse section of the older 
stems. 
cross-way (kros'wa), . A cross-road. 
There are so many cross-ways, there's no following her. 
Fletcher, Pilgrim, iv. 1. 
crossways (kros'waz), adv. Same as cross- 
wise, 2, 3. [Bare.] 
cross-webbing (kros'web'ing), n. In saddlery, 
webbing drawn over the saddletree to strength- 
en the foundation of the seat of the saddle. 
cross-week (kros'wek), w. Rogation week; the 
week beginning with Rogation Sunday: sup- 
posed to be so called from the medieval custom 
of carrying the cross about the parish in pro- 
cession at that season. See rotation. 
The parson, vicar, or curate, and church-wardens, shall 
... in the days of the rogations commonly called Cross- 
week or Gang-days, walk the accustomed bounds of every 
parish. Abp. Grindal, Remains (Parker Soc.), p. 141. 
cross-wire (kros'wir), n. A wire placed trans- 
versely to another ; specifically, same as cross- 
hair. 
crosswise (kros'wiz), adv. [< cross 1 + -wise.] 
1. In the form of a cross. 
The church is huilt croAmH.se, with a Hue spire. 
Johnson, To Mrs. Thrale, Aug. 12, 1773. 
2. Across ; transversely : absolutely or followed 
by to before an object: as, the timbers were 
laid crosswise; the woof runs crosswise to the 
warp. 3. Figuratively, contrary to desire; at 
cross-purposes ; against the grain : as, every- 
thing goes crosswise to-day. In last two senses 
also crossways. 
crosswort (kros'wert), n. A name of plants of 
various genera, particularly Galium cruciatum 
(see Galium), Eupatorium perfoliatum (more 
commonly called boneset), Lysimachia quadri- 
folia. and plants of the genus Crucianella. 
crotal (kro'tal), n. [< crotalum.'] A jingling 
ornament formerly used in clerical vestments. 
See crotalum. 
crotala, . Plural of crotalum. 
Crotalaria (kro-ta-la'ri-a), n. [NL. (so called 
because the seeds rattle in the pod if shaken), 
< Gr. npindfMv, a rattle.] A very extensive ge- 
nus of plants, of the natural order Leguminosie, 
containing several hundred known species ; 
rattlewort. The species are all natives of warm cli- 
mates, but have been long cultivated in hothouses. A kind 
of hemp is made from the inner bark of C. jnncea, which 
is called sunu-hemp, etc. (see sunn) ; other species yield 
useful fibers. The rattlebox, C. sayittalis, is a common 
species of the eastern United States. 
crotalid (kro'ta-lid), n. A snake of the family 
Crotalidce. 
Crotalidse (kro-tal'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Crotalus 
+ -idai.'] A family of venomous serpents, of 
the group Solenogli/pha of the order Ophidia, 
having a dilatable mouth with perforated poi- 
son-fangs, and poison-glands, and differing from 
Viperidce chiefly in having a deep pit on .each 
side of the head between the eye and the nos- 
tril, whence they are also called liothrophera ; 
the rattlesnake family : so called from the crepi- 
taculum or rattle with which the tail ends in 
many of the species. The family contains most of the 
venomous serpents of the warmer parts of Asia and Ameri- 
ca, such as the rattlesnakes, moccasins, copperheads, bush- 
masters, etc., of the genera Crotalus, Trigonocephalus, 
Bothrops, Cenchris, Trimrntttrut, Craspcdocephalus, etc. 
crotaliform (kro-tal'i-forrn), a. [< NL. Cro- 
talus, q. v., + L. forma, shape.] Resembling 
or related to the rattlesnake ; solenoglyph ; vi- 
peroid: specifically said of venomous serpents, 
as of the family Crotalidw, in distinction from 
cobriform. The crotaliform serpents are the Soleno- 
glilpha, including the families Causidce, Atractaspidida!, 
\ tpemltf, and Crotalidce. 
Crotalinae (kro-ta-li'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Crota- 
lus + -ince.'} A" subfamily of Crotalidce, con- 
taining the rattlesnakes, characterized by hav- 
ing the tail ending in a rattle or crepitaculum. 
See Crotalidte and rattlesnake. 
crotaline (kro'ta-lin), a. [< Crotalus + -iiic*.'] 
Having a rattle, as a rattlesnake ; specifically, 
pertaining to or having the characters of the 
Crotalinie or CrotaHda. 
1366 
The venom of the crotaline snakes can be subjected to 
the temperature of the boiling of water without com- 
pletely losing its poisonous power. 
The American, VI. 173. 
Crotalini (kro-ta-li'ni), n. pi. [NL. (Oppel, 
1811), < Crotalus + -int.] The pit-vipers or 
crotaliform snakes of the genera Crotalus and 
Trigonocephalus, in a broad sense. 
crotalo (kro'ta-16), n. [< Gr. Ki>6ra'Aov, a rattle, 
clapper, a sort of Castanet, used in the worship 
of Cybele.] A Turkish musical instrument, 
corresponding to the ancient cymbalum. 
Crotalophorus (kro-ta-lof'o-rus), n. [NL., < 
Gr. K/>6ra/.ov, a rattle, clapper, + -^<Vr, < <j>ipeiv 
= E. bear 1 .] A genus of rattlesnakes, having 
the top of the head covered with nine large 
symmetrical plates, as in ordinary innocuous 
colubrine snakes. It includes the small rattlesnakes 
of North America, such as the ground-rattlesnake (C. iiti- 
liarius), the prairie-rattlesnake or massasauga (C. terge- 
tniniM), the black massasanga (C. kirtlaiuti), etc. Some of 
these are commonly known as "sidewipers," from their 
habit of wriggling siilewise. They are comparatively 
small, but very venomous. See Crotalus. 
crotalum (kro'ta-lum), n. ; pi. crotala (-la). 
[L., < Gr. Kporahav, a rattle.] 1. A rattle or 
clapper, made of wood or bone, anciently used 
in Egypt and Greece. 
Part of one metope [Phigaleia] retains the torso of a 
mamad with krotala in her right hand, as if ready for 
the dance. A. S. Murray, Greek Sculpture, II. 178. 
2. A name given to bells of the form of sleigh- 
bells or grelots. Such bells, when very small, were 
used for hawks, and, as hawk-bells, often appear in her- 
aldry. Larger ones are occasionally seen, which have 
been handed down from the middle ages, and are still 
utilized in certain curious local customs. 
Crotalus (kro'ta-lus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
a rattle.] The typical genus of rattlesnakes of 
the subfamily Crotalinrje, having most of the top 
of the head covered with scales like those of 
Fig. i. Skull of Rattlesnake (Crotalus), illustrating extreme of so- 
lenogjyphic dentition. Fig. 2. Cross-section of Skull at point B in fig. i, 
showing 7", the persistent cartilaginous trabecula:. The maxilla, MX, 
hearing the enormous poison-fang, is drawn as if transparent, showing 
through it the anterior half of the palatine bone, PI. Mn, mandible, 
or lower jaw ; ( ';*. quadrate : ft, pterygoid, its anterior part, marked 
fit, bearing three teeth. BO, basioccipital ; EO, exoccipital ; FO, 
fenestra ovalis ; Sq, squaraosal ; V, exit of fifth nerve ; ES, basisphe- 
noid ; PSph, presphenoid ; //, exit of optic nerve ; La, lacrymal bone, 
on which the maxilla rocks ; If', lacrymal foramen ; Na, nasal : Pmf, 
the small toothless premaxilla. The unshaded bone above Bt and 
PI is the transverse bone. 
the back, a well-developed rattle, and the scutes 
under the tail (subcaudal) entire. It contains the 
largest rattlers, as C. durisms, the banded rattlesnake, 
and C. adamanteas, the diamond rattlesnake, two species 
found in eastern parts of the United States ; C. conjluen- 
tun, the commonest and most widely distributed rattler 
of the western parts of the United States; C. molossus, 
the black rattlesnake ; C. pyrrhus, the rare red rattle- 
snake ; and others. Also sometimes called Caudixona ; in 
this case the name Crotatus is transferred to the genus 
otherwise called Crotalophorus. See also cut under rattle- 
snake. 
crotaphe (kro'ta-fe), n. [< Gr. KporaQoc,, the side 
of the head, pi. the temples.] A painful pul- 
sation or throbbing in the temples. 
crotaphic (kro-taf 'ik), . [< LGr. uporaipiKof, < 
Gr. K/mTa<j>of, the side of the head, pi. the tem- 
ples.] In anat., temporal; crotaphite. [Rare.] 
crotaphite (kro'ta-fit), a. and . [< Gr. upora- 
<t>'tTw, relating to the temples, < Kporo^of, tem- 
poral region, pi. the temples, < ttpoTetv, strike, 
cause to rattle.] I. a. In anat., relating to the 
temples; temporal: as, the crotaphite depres- 
sion of the skull, the temporal fossa; the cro- 
taphite muscle, the temporalis. [Rare.] 
The [rattlesnake " strikes ": by the simultaneous con- 
traction of the crotaphite muscle, part of which extends 
over the poison-gland, the poison is injected into the 
wound. Huxley, Anat. Vert, p. 207. 
Il.t . A temporal muscle. Coles, 1717. 
Crotaphytus (kro-ta-fi'tus), n. [NL., prop. 
'Orotaphitut, "Crotdphites, < Gr. Kpora^irj/f, re- 
lating to the temples : see crotaphite.'] A genus 
of lizards, of the family Iguanidie, containing 
large and handsome species, as C. collaris, C. 
U'islizeni, and C. reticulatus. They are abundant aud 
crotchetiness 
characteristic species of the southwestern portions of the 
United States, sometimes attaining a length of nearly a 
foot, having a slender form, long tail, richly variegated 
coloration, anil great activity. 
crotch (kroch), . [< ME. crotclie, croclte, a 
shepherd's crook, with var. croke, crook ; mixed 
with croche, prop, cruclie, crucchc, a crutch, and 
with croce, a erozier : see crook, croche'^, crutch 1 . 
cross 2 , crosier, and cf. crotchet, ult. a dim. of 
crotch.] 1. A fork or forking ; a point or line 
of divergence or parting, as of two legs or 
branches : as, the crotch of a tree (the point of 
separation of the main stem into two parts) ; a 
piece of timber with a crotch. 2f. A shep- 
herd's crook. 
Croke [var. crotche, croche] or scheype hoke, pedmn, cam- . 
buca, podium. Prompt. 1'arv., p. 104. 
3. Nant., same as crutch' 1 . 4. In billiards, a 
space, generally 4J inches square, at a corner 
of the table. 
crotched (krocht), a. [< crotch + -/"!.] 1. 
Having a crotch ; forked. 
Which rnnneth by Estridinodoch, a crotchcil brooke. 
Holinshed, Descrip. of Britain, xiv. 
2. Peevish; cross; crotchety. [Local, andproii. 
kroch'ed.] 
crotchet (kroch'et), 11. [< ME. crochett, a little 
'hook, also a crotchet in music, < OF. crochet, a 
little hook, a crotchet in music, dim. of croc, a 
hook: see crook and crotch.'] 1. A little hook; 
a hook. 
Two beddys . . . 
That henget shalle be with hole sylour 
With crochettes and loupys [loops] sett on lyour. 
Book ofCurtasye, 1. 446. 
Specifically 2. In anat., the hooked anterior 
end of the superior occipitotemporal cerebral 
convolution. 3. In entom., a little hook-like 
organ or process, generally one of a series ; 
specifically, one of the minute homy hooks on 
the prolegs of many caterpillars. 4. One of 
the pair of marks, [ ], used in writing and 
printing, now more commonly called brackets. 
See bracket 1 , n., 4. 
The passages included within the parentheses, or crotch- 
ets, as the press styles them. 
Boyle, Works, II. 3, The Publisher to the Reader. 
5. A curved surgical instrument with a sharp 
hook, used to extract the fetus in the opera- 
tion of embryotomy. 6. In music, a note equal 
in length to half a minim or one fourth of a 
semibreve; a quarter note. See note. 7. A 
piece of wood resembling a fork, used as a sup- 
port in building. 
The crotchets of their cot in columns rise. 
Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Baucis and Philemon, 1. 160. 
8. Milit., a peculiar arrangement of troops, in 
which they are drawn up in a line nearly per- 
pendicular to the line of battle. 9. In fort., 
an indentation in the glacis of the covered way 
at a point where a traverse is placed. 10. A 
singular opinion, especially one held by a per- 
son who has no special competency to form a 
correct opinion ; an unusual and whimsical no- 
tion concerning a matter of fact or principle of 
action ; a perverse or odd conceit. 
Some crotchet has possess'd him, 
And he is flx'd to follow 't. 
Shirley, Love's Cruelty, i. 2. 
Many of the things brought forward would now be called 
crotchets, which is the nearest word we have to the old 
"paradox." But there is this difference, that by calling 
a thing a crotchet we mean to speak lightly of it. 
De Moryan, Budget of Paradoxes, p. 2. 
Dr. Kenn, exemplary as he had hitherto appeared, had 
his crotchets possibly his weaknesses. 
George Eliot, -Mill on the Floss, vii. 4. 
Crotchet-rest, in M*iV, a quarter rest. 
crotchett, *'. '. or i. [< crotchet, .] To play 
or sing in quick rhythm. 
These cantels and morsels of scripture warbled, quaver- 
ed, and crotcht'tted, to give pleasure unto the ears. 
Haniuir, tr. of Beza's Sermons (1587), p. 267. 
Drawing his breath as thick and short as can 
The nimblest crotchetiny musician. 
Don tie, Jealousy. 
crotcheted (kroch'et-ed), n. [< crotchet + -ed*.] 
Marked or measured by crotchets. 
crotcheteer (kroch-et-er'), 11. [< crotchet + 
-eer.] A crotchety person ; one devoted to 
some favorite theory, crotchet, or hobby. 
Nobody of the slightest pretensions to influence is safe 
from the sollcikxu canvassing and silent pres.suiv .if social 
crotcheteers. J-'urtniiilitlii Jier. 
Till Adam Smith laid the foundations "f modern eco- 
nomics, the fiscal policy of the (io\ eminent was u game of 
perpetual .scc-suw between lival em[t]eft0Ceer& 
WrKtnii>i*t,-r li,-r.. CXXVI. 156. 
crotchetiness (krochYt-i-nrs). . The state or 
quality of being crotchety ; the character of a 
crotcheteer. 
