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crèche

[kresh, kreysh; French kresh]
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noun, plural crèch·es [kresh-iz, krey-shiz; French kresh] /ˈkrɛʃ ɪz, ˈkreɪ ʃɪz; French krɛʃ/.
  1. a small or large modeled representation or tableau of Mary, Joseph, and others around the crib of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem, as is displayed in homes or erected for exhibition in a community at Christmas season.
  2. a home for foundlings.
  3. British. a day-care center; day nursery.
  4. Animal Behavior. an assemblage of dependent young that are cared for communally.
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Origin of crèche

1785–95; < French, Old French < Frankish *kripja crib
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for creche

Historical Examples

  • A special nursery, the "Creche," was built for their children.

    America's Munitions 1917-1918

    Benedict Crowell

  • How am I supposed to protect the Creche from the likes of Erikson?

    Turning Point

    Alfred Coppel

  • Third, the artificial persons that streamed from the Creche were blasphemy.

    Turning Point

    Alfred Coppel

  • There are almost a thousand androids in the Creche as of this morning.

    Turning Point

    Alfred Coppel

  • "But the Creche is here, and I am here to guard it as my forefathers did," Merrick said.

    Turning Point

    Alfred Coppel

British Dictionary definitions for creche

crèche

noun
  1. mainly British
    1. a day nursery for very young children
    2. a supervised play area provided for young children for short periods
  2. a tableau of Christ's Nativity
  3. a foundling home or hospital
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Word Origin

C19: from Old French: manger, crib, ultimately of Germanic origin; compare Old High German kripja crib
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for creche

n.

"Christmas manger scene," 1792, from French crèche, from Old French cresche (13c.) "crib, manger, stall," ultimately from a Germanic source, cf. Old High German kripja, Old English cribb (see crib). Also "a public nursery for infants where they are cared for while their mothers are at work" (1854).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper