Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A small, narrow opening, fissure, crevice, or chink, as in a wall, or other substance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A tool for forming the necks of bottles, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A clerk writing English.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: India, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A member of the East Indians, or mixed-race people, from among whom English copyists were chiefly recruited.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: India, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To break into, or become full of, crannies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To haunt or enter by crannies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a small opening or crevice (especially in a rock face or wall)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hole
noun
a long narrow depression in a surface
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: crevice, crack, fissure, chap
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: depression, impression, imprint
History
From Middle English crany, crani (“cranny”), apparently a diminutive of *cran (+ -y), from Old French cran, cren (“notch, fissure”), a derivative of crener (“to notch, split”), from Medieval Latin crenō (“split”, verb), from Vulgar Latin *crinō (“split, break”, verb), of obscure origin. Despite a spurious use in Pliny, connection to Latin crēna is doubtful. Instead, probably of Germanic or Celtic origin. Compare Old High German chrinna (“notch, groove, crevice”), Alemannic German Krinne (“small crack, channel, groove”), Low German karn (“notch, groove, crevice, cranny”), Old Irish ara-chrinin (“to perish, decay”).
Borrowed from Hindustani किरानी (kirānī) / کِرانِی (kirānī).
Across languages
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.
