Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

wrecking crane

American  

noun

Railroads.
  1. a crane for lifting and removing wrecked rolling stock.


Etymology

Origin of wrecking crane

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

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.

And when the wrecking crane finally comes: “The sheared towers revealed dozens of brightly colored rooms, like a box of pastels.”

From Washington Post • Feb. 22, 2018

Phillips is nothing more than a massive ball on the end of a wrecking crane.

From Time Magazine Archive

He pulled back on one of the several levers recessed into the hull and the big wrecking crane swung smoothly out of its cradle and over the wreckage.

From Code Three by Raphael, Rick