crutch

American  

[kruhch] / krʌtʃ /

noun

crutches plural

1. a staff or support to assist a lame or infirm person in walking, now usually with a crosspiece at one end to fit under the armpit.

2. any of various devices resembling this in shape or use.

3. anything that serves as a temporary and often inappropriate support, supplement, or substitute; prop.

   He uses liquor as a psychological crutch.

4. a forked support or part.

5. the crotch of the human body.

6. Nautical. Also

   1. a forked support for a boom or spar when not in use.

   2. a forked support for an oar on the sides or stern of a rowboat.

   3. a horizontal knee reinforcing the stern frames of a wooden vessel.

7. a forked device on the left side of a sidesaddle, consisting of two hooks, one of which is open at the bottom and serves to clamp the left knee and the other of which is open at the top and serves to support the right knee.

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verb (used with object)

1. to support on crutches; prop; sustain.

crutch British  

/ krʌtʃ /

noun

1. a long staff of wood or metal having a rest for the armpit, for supporting the weight of the body

2. something that supports or sustains

   a crutch to the economy

3. another word for crotch

4. nautical

   1. a forked support for a boom or oar, etc

   2. a brace for reinforcing the frames at the stern of a wooden vessel

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verb

1. (tr) to support or sustain (a person or thing) as with a crutch

2. slang to clip (wool) from the hindquarters of a sheep

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crutchlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crutches
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crutch

before 900; Middle English crucche, Old English cryce (oblique crycce ); cognate with Norwegian krykkja, Danish krykke, German Krücke, Dutch kruk. See crook ¹

Explanation

A crutch is something you lean on when you’re hurt or weak. It can be a physical crutch you use because you broke your leg, or a friend you depend on a bit too much when you’re having a tough time. A medical crutch is a device that helps you walk when you’re injured. A psychological crutch helps you when you need it, or think you do. Medical crutches come in pairs and have soft pads that fit under your arms and handles to help you rest your body weight on them. Other types of crutches fit securely around the lower part of your arm. The Old English root word is crycce, "staff," and the figurative meaning dates from about 1600.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crutch crutches

But it was interesting to see him wrestle with how his work hinders that — is it the crutch or the salvation?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

O'Sullivan spent months in hospital after the crash, cannot walk more than 10m without becoming breathless and uses a crutch.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

If you use your chatbot as a coach, not a crutch, it can help you hone your own memory and reasoning skills.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

And though “Undertone” makes good use of its podcasting conceit, the format is little more than a crutch for the movie’s narrative to rest on.

From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2026

Halfway across, one crutch caught on a rug, and he had to stab the other into the wall to keep from crashing into a lantern.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Others required the use of crutches, wheelchairs and, in the most extreme cases, artificial breathing machines known as iron lungs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

"I walked into the hospital able-bodied and came out in crutches," she told BBC News NI.

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2026

She said she’s “very much immobile,” confined to a wheelchair for the time being and then on crutches for at least two months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026

Now I will focus on rehab and progressing from a wheelchair to crutches in a few weeks.

From Barron's ● Feb. 23, 2026

He dropped the crutches and sank to the chair at the kitchen table.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

• cane