crake

American  

[kreyk] / kreɪk /

noun

1. any of several short-billed rails, especially the corn crake.

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crake British  

/ kreɪk /

noun

1. zoology any of several rails that occur in the Old World, such as the corncrake and the spotted crake

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Etymology

Origin of crake

1275–1325; Middle English < Old Norse krākr, krāki crow ¹

Example Sentences

All that is winged, even the grating corn crake, is painted with a mystical birder’s unworldly rose-colored pianistic glasses.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2021

The Cedar Beach bird was only the second corn crake recorded in New York State since Grover Cleveland was president.

From New York Times • Jan. 23, 2018

On another hunt, the party shot a brace of crake, five pheasant and a pigeon. 

From Forbes • Jan. 11, 2015

He says that birds such as spotted crake, which usually turn up from Africa and are attracted to large pools of water, did not show up last year.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2012

Those whose musical creed is Time before Sentiment might have put up with this night-bird; for to do her justice she was a perfect timist—one crake in a bar the livelong night; but her tune—ugh!

From It Is Never Too Late to Mend by Reade, Charles