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
crowbait n. worn-out old horse idiom
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
cryptologer n. cryptographer obsolete
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
culverin n. handheld weapon of the 14th & early 15th Centuries; small cannon
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
cuspidorian n. person tasked with cleaning and maintaining cuspidors
customary n. consuetudinary, customal, custumal, written account of local customs or usages of a manor or region
cut the cackle v. stop messing about (and move on to serious matters) British
cutler n. seller or repairer of knives
cwm n. steep narrow valley, cirque
cwt n. abbreviation for hundredweight
cyclamen n. perennial of the primrose family with white, red, or pink flowers
cyclostyle n. early duplicating device in which a toothed rowel is used to create holes in a stencil through which ink is forced
cynosure n. center of attention; guiding star
czardas n. Hungarian dance with slow start and frenetic finish
dace n. small freshwater fish similar to roach or chub
dacoit n. member of thieving class in India and Burma
dacron n. polyester material used for thread and cloth
dactyloscopic adj. of or related to fingerprints
dado n. lower part of interior wall when finished differently than upper portion; grooved slot in board into which another board is fixed
daedal adj. clever, adroit
dally v. to loiter; to delay by trifling; to talk idly; to toy with, esp. in amorous pursuit
daltonism n. color-blindness, esp. between red and green
Search: