Crotalidæ, krō-tal′i-dē, n.pl. a family of venomous serpents, including rattlesnakes, copper-heads, &c.

Crotalo, krō′ta-lō, n. a Turkish musical instrument, like the ancient cymbalum.

Crotch, kroch, n. a fork, as of a tree: the bifurcation of the human body.—adj. Crotched. [Ety. obscure.]

Crotchet, kroch′et, n. a hook: a note in music, equal to half a minim,

Croton, krō′ton, n. a genus of tropical plants, producing a brownish-yellow oil, having a hot, biting taste.—ns. Crō′tonate, a salt formed by the union of crotonic acid with a base; Crō′ton-oil, a powerful purgative oil, expressed from the seeds of the Croton tiglium, also used externally.—Croton′ic acid, an acid obtained from croton-oil. [Gr. krotōn, a tick or mite, which the seed of the plant resembles.]

Crottles, krot′ls, n.pl. lichens used for dyeing. [Gael. crotal.]

Crouch, krowch, v.i. to squat or lie close to the ground: to cringe: to fawn. [Possibly crook.]

Crouched-friars = Crutched-friars. See Crutch.

Crouch-ware, krowch′-wār, n. a finely finished pottery made with an admixture of pipe-clay in Shropshire: the famous salt-glazed stoneware made at Burslem.