crane

name

Etymology: * As an English surname, from the noun crane. * As a Dutch surname, spelling variant of Krane. * As a German surname, adaptation of Krahn and Krahnich.

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noun

1. Alternative form of cran (“measure of herrings”).

verb

Etymology: From Middle English crane, from Old English cran (“crane”), from Proto-West Germanic *kran, *kranō, from Proto-Germanic *kranô (“crane”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerh₂- (“to cry hoarsely”). Cognate with Scots cran (“crane”), Dutch kraan (“crane”), German Low German Kroon (“crane”), German Kran (“crane”). The mechanical devices are named from their likeness to the bird.

1. To extend (one's neck).

   “and my bachelor's hearth is imbedded where by much craning of head and neck I can catch sight of a sycamore in the Square garden,”

   “Didcot had one definite pleasure. We knew that little boys would be going up and down the platform singing out, "Banbury cakes! Banbury cakes!" And mother would crane out and buy some, just to encourage the crew.”

2. To raise or lower with, or as if with, a crane.

   “What engines, what instruments are used in craning up a soul, sunk below the centre, to the highest heavens.”

   “an upstart craned up to the height he has”

3. To pull up before a jump.