Part 634

2. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of Derrick.

3. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.

4. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.

5. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2.

Crane fly (Zo÷l.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of the genus Tipula. -- Derrick crane. See Derrick. -- Gigantic crane. (Zo÷l.) See Adjutant, n., 3. -- Traveling crane, Traveler crane, Traversing crane (Mach.), a crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead crane consisting of a crab or other hoisting apparatus traveling on rails or beams fixed overhead, as in a machine shop or foundry. -- Water crane, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout, for filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with water.

Crane (krān), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Craned (krānd); p. pr. & vb. n. Craning.] 1. To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with up. [R.]

What engines, what instruments are used in craning up a soul, sunk below the center, to the highest heavens. Bates.

An upstart craned up to the height he has. Massinger.

2. To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck disdainfully. G. Eliot.

crane, v. i. to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better; as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap. Beaconsfield. Thackeray.

The passengers eagerly craning forward over the bulwarks. Howells.

Crane's"-bill` (kr?nz"b?l`), n. 1. (Bot.) The geranium; -- so named from the long axis of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane. Dr. Prior.

2. (Surg.) A pair of long-beaked forceps.

Crang (kr?ng), n. See Krang.

||Cra"ni*a (kr?"n?-?), n. [NL.] (Zo÷l.) A genus of living Brachiopoda; -- so called from its fancied resemblance to the cranium or skull.

Cra"ni*al (kr?"n?-a]/>l), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the cranium.

Cra"ni*o*clasm (kr?"n?-?-kl?z'm), n. [Cranium + Gr. &?;&?;&?; to break.] (Med.) The crushing of a child's head, as with the cranioclast or craniotomy forceps in cases of very difficult delivery. Dunglison.

Cra"ni*o*clast (-kl?st), n. (Med.) An instrument for crushing the head of a fetus, to facilitate delivery in difficult eases.

Cra`ni*o*fa"cial (-f?"shal), a. Of or pertaining to the cranium and face; as, the craniofacial angle.

Cra`ni*og"no*my (-?g"n?-m?), n. [Cranium + Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;. to know.] The science of the form and characteristics of the skull. [R.]

Cra`ni*o*log"ic*al (-?-l?j"?-kal), a. Of or pertaining to craniology.

Cra`ni*ol"o*gist (-?l"?-j?st), n. One proficient in craniology; a phrenologist.

Cra`ni*ol"o*gy (-j?), n. [Cranium + -logy.] The department of science (as of ethnology or archŠology) which deals with the shape, size, proportions, indications, etc., of skulls; the study of skulls.

Cra`ni*om"e*ter (kr?`n?-?m"?-t?r), n. [Cranium + -meter.] An instrument for measuring the size of skulls.

{ Cra`ni*o*met"ric (-?-m?t"r?k), Cra`ni*o*met"ric*al (-r?-kal), } a. Pertaining to craniometry.

Cra`ni*om"e*try (kr?`n?-?m"?-tr?), n. The art or act of measuring skulls.

Cra`ni*os"co*pist (kr?`n?-?s"k?-p?st), n. One skilled in, or who practices, cranioscopy.

It was found of equal dimension in a literary man whose skull puzzied the cranioscopists. Coleridge.