cranny

[kran-ee]

noun

plural

crannies 

1. a small, narrow opening in a wall, rock, etc.; chink; crevice; fissure.

   They searched every nook and cranny for the missing ring.

2. a small out-of-the-way place or obscure corner; nook.

cranny

/ ˈkrænɪ /

noun

1. a narrow opening, as in a wall or rock face; chink; crevice (esp in the phrase every nook and cranny )

Other Word Forms

• crannied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cranny¹

1400–50; late Middle English crany, perhaps < Middle French crené, past participle of crener to notch, groove; crenel

Word History and Origins

Origin of cranny¹

C15: from Old French cran notch, fissure; compare _crenel

Idioms and Phrases

see nook and cranny.

Example Sentences

Inspired by cinema setpieces and centuries-old European cottages, architects designed playful homes with turrets and gables on the outside and nooks and crannies on the inside.

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Two anxious servants armed with feather dusters were already on their third inspection of every nook and cranny of the room.

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"Full of little nooks and crannies where they can roost, big open flight spaces, dry spaces inside, away from the rain, where they can fly around. It is really just an absolutely perfect environment."

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Over the course of eight weeks they will go beyond the black box and explore the many nooks and crannies of the century-old campus to create a 15-minute site-specific theater piece.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

From obsessive city-wide tagging in every impossible nook and cranny and world famous Banksy pieces to bold and colourful community murals, Bristol's street art has since become world renowned.

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