crapulous adj. given to intemperate eating or drinking
crassities n. materiality, density obsolete
craton n. area of the earth’s crust and mantle which has remained unchanged by tectonic activity
crawfish v. to back out from a commitment or position idiom
credenza n. dining room sideboard or table, used for buffets or for setting dishes to be served (also credence)
crenellate v. to furnish with battlements, embrasures, or loopholes
crenulate adj. minutely notched or scalloped biology
crepitus n. grating noise produced by friction between bone and cartilage or pieces of broken bone; rale
crepuscular adj. like twilight; dim
cresset n. metal vessel containing oil, grease, rope in pitch, or other flammable material, used for lighting and usually mounted upon a pole
cretonne n. heavy printed cloth often used in upholstery
criminator n. accuser, calumniator archaic
criminogenic adj. causing crime, of the bases of criminal behavior
crise de foi n. internal religious tumult, “crisis of faith”
crise de foie n. indigestion, “upset liver”
criterion n. standard of judgment
crocket n. hook-shaped medieval ornament suggesting a leaf
crocodile n. line of walking persons, esp. when composed of children
cromlech n. dolmen, megalithic tomb
croodle v. to crouch down; to draw oneself together, as for warmth; to cling closely to a person
crore n. ten million (esp. of rupees), one hundred lakh
crossruff v. to take tricks alternately in bridge, each winning partner leading a suit which the other trumps and so forth
crowbar v. to prevent overvoltage by creating a short circuit away from electrical components which might otherwise be damaged
cruentate adj. blood-smeared obsolete
cruet n. small container of condiment or seasoning for use at table; small container for Eucharistic wine
cruive n. weir for catching salmon Scots
cruor n. clotted blood; red colored matter within blood
crupper n. strap looped around horse’s tail attached to saddle to prevent the saddle or harness from moving forward
cruse n. pot or jar of earthenware
crwth n. bowed instrument on rectangular frame employed by ancient Celts
crypt n. depression or sinkage surrounding a villus in the intestinal epithelium
cryptesthesia n. perception by hidden or paranormal means, such as clairaudience or clairvoyance
cubitus n. one of (usu. three) major veins in insect wing; elbow; forearm biology
cuckooing n. exploitation of vulnerable people’s homes for criminal activity, esp. that related to the distribution of drugs British
culm n. 1 plant stem, esp. of grass or sedge botany
culm n. 2 waste coal or coal dust; inferior anthracite
cultivar n. plant variety created by selective breeding
cumber v. to hinder or hamper, to burden
cumbrous adj. unwieldy, cumbersome
cumshaw n. gratuity, present, tip
cumulet n. white domesticated pigeon
curate n. assistant to rector or vicar
curate’s egg n. something asserted to be both bad and good, but which is entirely awful idiom
curiologic adj. of hieroglyphic writing in which pictures directly represent objects; of pictorial representation as in a rebus
currawong n. medium-sized crowlike songbird of Australia
curricle n. two-wheeled light carriage drawn by two horses abreast
curtilage n. ground surrounding a dwelling, sometimes including outbuildings, considered the same as the residence itself
curule chair n. seat modeled after ancient camp chair with open back and curved legs and often decorated with ivory in which only the highest magistrates of ancient Rome were privileged to sit
curvet n. leap of rearing horse in dressage in which the hind legs are kicked out as the front legs descend; to leap in this manner
customary n. consuetudinary, customal, custumal, written account of local customs or usages of a manor or region
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