crosse
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of crosse
1865–70; < French: literally, hooked stick, Old French croce < Germanic; see crutch, crook 1
Explanation
A crosse is another word for a lacrosse stick, the long-handled racket used to play the team sport. In lacrosse, the goalie holds a special, extra large crosse. A crosse has a very long handle, with a triangular, netted head for catching the hard rubber lacrosse ball. Players use their crosses to carry and throw the ball to each other, ultimately trying to score points by aiming the ball into goals at either end of the field. The origin of the word crosse is the Old French croce, or "bishop's crook."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Blond Ron Beagle, who offsets his clumsiness with the crosse by his ferocious shoulder blocks, rattled ribs all over the field.
From Time Magazine Archive
Quoth Conscience and kneled tho: ‘This aren Pieres armes, His coloures and his cote-armure, ac he that cometh so blody Is Cryst with his crosse, conqueroure of crystene’.
From Medieval English Literature Home University of Modern Knowledge #43 by Ker, W. P. (William Paton)
O Lord Iesv-Christ, Son of the liuing God! interpose, I pray Thee, Thine Own pretious death, 39 Thy crosse and passion, betwixt my soul and Thy185 iudgment, now and in the hour of my death.
From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard
Ile crosse it, though it blast me: stay illusion, If there be any good thing to be done, That may doe ease to thee, and grace to mee, Speake to mee.
From Dramatic Technique by Baker, George Pierce
For one circle maie crosse and cutte a great many other circles, yet can be not cutte any one in more places then two, as the fiue and fiftie Theoreme affirmeth.
From The Path-Way to Knowledg Containing the First Principles of Geometrie by Record, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
