crock

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.4 Verb 1.5 Derived terms 1.6 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Crock comes from Old English crocc, crucca, which means earthenware pot or pitcher. A written record of the word crock dates back to 1000 AD. It might have been the common Anglo-Saxon term for pot before 1066 AD. Cognates include Danish krukke (“‘jar’”), German Krug (“‘jug’”), Icalandic krukka (“‘pot’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɒk

[edit] Noun

crock (plural crocks)

1. A stoneware or earthenware jar or storage container.
2. A piece of broken pottery, a shard.
3. (British, Australian) A person who is physically limited by age or injury. Old crocks home = home for the aged
4. (British) An old or broken-down vehicle (and formerly a horse). Old crocks race = veteran car rally
5. (slang) Silly talk, a foolish belief, a poor excuse, nonsense. (as in "that is a bunch of crock" or "the story is a crock")

[edit] Verb

to crock (third-person singular simple present crocks, present participle crocking, simple past and past participle crocked)

1. To break something or injure someone.
   • 1904, P.G. Wodehouse, The Gold Bat [1]:

   "That last time I brought down Barry I crocked him. He's in his study now with a sprained ankle. ..."

   • 2007 January 3, Daily Mirror:

   Thousands of cars crocked by dodgy fuel

   • 2006 April 30, The Sunday Times:

   Ferreira ... peremptorily expunges England’s World Cup chances by crocking Wayne Rooney.

2. (textiles, leatherworking) To transfer coloring through abrasion from one item to another.
   • 1917, John H. Pfingsten, "Colouring-matter for leather and method of using the same" [2], US Patent 1371572, page 1:

   thus producing a permanent, definite color thereon which will not fade or crock, and at the same time using up all of the coloring matter.

   • 1964, Isabel Barnum Wingate, Know Your Merchandise [3], page 109:

   Colored fabrics should be dried separately for the first few times to prevent crocking (rubbing off of dye).

   • 2002, Sandy Scrivano, Sewing With Leather & Suede [4], ISBN 1579902731, page 95:

   In leather garments, lining also prevents crocking of color onto skin or garments worn underneath.

3. (horticulture) To cover the drain holes of a planter with stones or similar material, in order to ensure proper drainage.
   • 1900, H.A. Burberry, The Amateur Orchid Cultivators' Guide Book [5], page 21:

   The pots should be crocked for drainage to one-half their depth and the plants made moderately firm in the compost, as already indicated...

[edit] Derived terms

• crocker
• crockery
• crockpot
• crock of shit
• crock haircut

[edit] References

• Krueger, Dennis (December 1982). "Why On Earth Do They Call It Throwing?" Studio Potter Vol. 11, Number 1.[6] (etymology)