Crane

·add. ·noun The American blue heron (Ardea herodias).

II. Crane ·noun A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.

III. Crane ·noun A measure for fresh herrings, — as many as will fill a barrel.

IV. Crane ·vt To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane;

— with up.

V. Crane ·vt To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck disdainfully.

VI. Crane ·noun A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, ·etc., — generally used in pairs. ·see Crotch, 2.

VII. Crane ·add. ·noun Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end, used for supporting a suspended weight.

VIII. Crane ·vi to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better; as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap.

IX. Crane ·noun An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, ·etc., over a fire.

X. Crane ·noun A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.

XI. Crane ·noun A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, ·etc.;

— so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane ·see ·Illust. of Derrick.