Part 669

Cro"cose (krō"kōs), n. [Gr. kro`kos saffron.] (Chem.) A white crystalline sugar, metameric with glucose, obtained from the coloring matter of saffron. [Written also crokose.]

Cro"cus (krō"kŭs), n. [L., saffron, fr. Gr. kro`kos; cf. Heb. karkōm, Ar. kurkum, Skr. ku&ndot;kuma.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms rising separately from the bulb or corm. C. vernus is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers; C. sativus produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn.

2. (Chem.) A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal calcined to a red or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of iron (Crocus of Mars or colcothar) thus produced from salts of iron, and used as a polishing powder.

Crocus of Venus (Old Chem.), oxide of copper.

Crť"sus (krē"sŭs), n. [L., fr. G. Kroi^sos.] A king of Lydia who flourished in the 6th century b. c., and was renowned for his vast wealth; hence, a common appellation for a very rich man; as, he is a veritable Crťsus.

Croft (kr&obreve;ft; 115), n. [AS. croft; akin to D. kroft hillock; cf. Gael. croit hump, croft.] A small, inclosed field, adjoining a house; a small farm.

A few small crofts of stone-encumbered ground. Wordsworth.

Croft"er (-?r), n. One who rents and tills a small farm or holding; as, the crofters of Scotland.

Croft"ing, n. 1. Croftland. [Scot.] Jamieson.

2. (Textile Manuf.) Exposing linen to the sun, on the grass, in the process of bleaching.

Croft"land (-l?nd), n. Land of superior quality, on which successive crops are raised. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Crois (krois). n. [OF.] See Cross, n. [Obs.]

{ Croi*sade" (kroi-s?d"), Croi*sa"do (- s?"d?), } n. [F. criosade. See Crusade.] A holy war; a crusade. [Obs.] Bacon.

Croise (krois), n. [F. croisÚ crusader, fr. OF. crois, F. croix, cross. See Cross.] 1. A pilgrim bearing or wearing a cross. [Obs.]

2. A crusader. [Obs.]

The conquests of the croises extending over Palestine. Burke.

||Crois`san`tÚ" (krw?`s?n`t?"), a. [F. croissant, adj. & n., crescent.] (Her.) Terminated with crescents; -- said of a cross the ends of which are so terminated.

Cro"ker (krō"k&etilde;r), n. [Gr. kro`kos saffron.] A cultivator of saffron; a dealer in saffron. [Obs.] Holinshed.

||Cro"ma (krō"m&adot;), n. [It.] (Mus.) A quaver. [Obs.]

Crom"lech (kr&obreve;m"l&ebreve;k), n. [W. cromlech; crom bending or bent, concave + llech a flat stone; akin to Ir. cromleac.] (ArchŠol.) A monument of rough stones composed of one or more large ones supported in a horizontal position upon others. They are found chiefly in countries inhabited by the ancient Celts, and are of a period anterior to the introduction of Christianity into these countries.

Cro*mor"na (kr?-m?r"n?), n. [F. cromorne (cf. It. cromorno0, fr. G. krummhorn crooked horn, cornet, an organ pipe turned like a trumpet; krumm crooked + horn horn.] (Mus.) A certain reed stop in the organ, of a quality of tone resembling that of the oboe. [Corruptly written cromona.]

Crone (krōn), n. [OD. kronie, karonie, an old sheep, OF. carogne, F. charogne, carrion (also F. carogne illnatured woman.). See Carrion, and Crony.] 1. An old ewe. [Obs.] Tusser.

2. An old woman; -- usually in contempt.

But still the crone was constant to her note. Dryden.

3. An old man; especially, a man who talks and acts like an old woman. [R.]

The old crone [a negro man] lived in a hovel, . . . which his master had given him. W. Irving.

A few old battered crones of office. Beaconsfield.

Cro"nel (kr?"n?l), n. [Cf. Coronel spearhead, Crown.] The iron head of a tilting spear.