croup

¹ American  

[kroop] / krup /

noun

Pathology.

1. any condition of the larynx or trachea characterized by a hoarse cough and difficult breathing.

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croup ² American  

[kroop] / krup /

noun

1. the highest part of the rump of a quadruped, especially a horse.

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croup ¹ British  

/ kruːp /

noun

1. a throat condition, occurring usually in children, characterized by a hoarse cough and laboured breathing, resulting from inflammation and partial obstruction of the larynx

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croup ² British  

/ kruːp /

noun

1. the hindquarters of a quadruped, esp a horse

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croup Scientific  

/ kro̅o̅p /

1. An acute infection that affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts, especially the larynx, trachea, and bronchi, and is caused most commonly by viruses of the genus Paramyxovirus. It is characterized by labored breathing and obstruction below the glottis, accompanied by a barking cough.

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Other Word Forms

• croupous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of croup¹

First recorded in 1755–65; noun use of croup “to cry hoarsely” (now dialectal), blend of croak and whoop

Origin of croup²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English croupe, from Middle French, Anglo-French crupe, Old French crope, from Germanic; see crop

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

croup

Her mother, Trista Hamsmith, took the toddler to the pediatrician, who suspected croup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 29, 2024

It causes up to 10% of human respiratory infections, mainly in children and immunocompromised people, with symptoms ranging from mild coughs and sniffles to bronchitis and croup.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2023

Michaela Stevens has complained about the treatment of her son Archie, who has suffered with croup - a common infection that affects children's airways from birth.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2023

In November 2019, Toniann thought Lucy-Marie had croup until "this cough noise" disappeared.

From BBC ● May 3, 2022

The kind of day on which we draped our coats over our heads, left our galoshes in school, and came down with croup the following day.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

Related Words

• cold