croft

¹

[krawft, kroft]

noun

British.

1. a small farm, especially one worked by a tenant.

2. a small plot of ground adjacent to a house and used as a kitchen garden, to pasture one or two cows, etc.; a garden large enough to feed a family or have commercial value.

croft

²

[krawft, kroft]

noun

1. a small, portable filing cabinet of table height, having drop leaves for use as a table.

croft

/ krɒft /

noun

1. a small enclosed plot of land, adjoining a house, worked by the occupier and his family, esp in Scotland

2. dialect,  a patch of wasteland, formerly one used for bleaching fabric in the sun

Word History and Origins

Origin of croft¹

before 1000; Middle English, Old English: small field

Origin of croft²

Named after the Reverend Sir Herbert Croft (1757–1816), lexicologist, its inventor

Word History and Origins

Origin of croft¹

Old English croft; related to Middle Dutch krocht hill, field, Old English creopan to _creep

Example Sentences

A farmer from South Uist claims sea eagles are behind the disappearance of five Shetland pony foals from his hillside croft.

From BBC

Rob Claxton-Ingham, who lives on a croft with his husband, said the future was uncertain as he doesn't know where his foster child will attend secondary school.

From BBC

"I have a croft house I am trying to do up, so I might do some plastering."

From BBC

It is a place of farms, crofts, forests and rugged hills, vast upland moors and mountains but few people.

From BBC

Instead of working on their long-overdue extension, Billy built a miniature croft house for the otter, equipped with a camera, wi-fi and a set of Mail family photos.

From BBC