crutch

American  

[kruhch] / krʌtʃ /

noun

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

• crutchlike adjective

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

Example Sentences

That’s when Papa made a crutch for her out of a red oak limb with a fork on one end.

From Literature

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

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

From Barron's

But I kept walking, steeled only by the strength from Olka’s elbow, which I was grasping, less as the part demanded than as a crutch I needed.

From Literature

After leaving the game, Baker-Mazara returned to the Trojans’ bench with ice on his knee and crutches.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cane