Middle English Dictionary Entry
crọ̄ked ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | crọ̄ked ppl. Also croket, crouket; cruked, -it; kirked; (?error) crokil. |
| Etymology | OE crōcod |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: See croched ppl.
1.
(a) Curving, curved, not straight; ~ ayen; ~ staf, a staff with a curving head or handle; ~ mone, crescent moon; (b) made to curve, bent; ~ ayen, turned up; (c) crooked, twisting, winding; (d) slantwise, at an angle, oblique; (e) convex; warped, not even; (f) ?irregular in shape; ?coarse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)80 : Þi bile is..hoked, Riȝt so an owel þat is croked.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1676 : Þeo þe haueþ bile ihoked, An cliures charpe & wel icroked.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.155 : Hail seint Dominik with þi lang staffe! Hit is at þe ouir end crokid as a gaffe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.381 : Staues wiþ croked [L recurvi] hedes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.211 : Scorpio..with croked tayle [L cauda..unca].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)274a/a : His hornes ben somdel crokede.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1697 : Grymme clawres Þat were croked and kene.
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)11.93 : Croked [Hnt: Dobest bere sholde þe bisshopes croce, And halye with hoked ende ille men to goode].
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)18b : A stalke..in þe maner of a crokid stafe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)10a/a : Som [bones] bene riȝt, som bene tortuose i. croked.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)13b/a : A bone curued i. croked.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)145a/a : Wiþ a cauterie recurue i. croked agayne.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.1154-6 : Knyuys crokid ffor vyne and bough..And crokid sithis.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Doubl.(Frf 16)17 : The croked moone..Som while is shene and bryght of hewe.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)57b : Þe clarioun is croked and bowyd bakwarde to þe visage of hym þat blowiþ, and summe ben torned and retorned as double croked.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14810 : A long flessh-hook..Sharp and krokyd for to rende.
- a1500 Arth.& M.(Dc 236)345/1115 : The whyte dragon..wiþ gret tuskes, þat croked were.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)136b/b : Þe reyne bowe..is I clepid bowe for liknesse of a croked bowe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 7.26 : The brynke therof was as the brynke of a cuppe, and as the leef of a lilie crokid aȝen [L folium repandi lilii].
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)113/21 : A man, þe whiche is þe seemliest creature in body..is not maad crokid to þe erþewardes, as ben alle oþer beestes.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)295 : If an arowe were so long tyme crokid þat he myȝte not be brouȝt soone into euennesse.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)488/23 : He fand it on..þe fynger cruked into þe luff of hur hand.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.13.13 : A crokid [L curvum] tree, and ful of knarres.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.27.1 : Leuyathan, a crookid wounde serpent [L serpentem tortuosum].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.761 : If that yow be so leef To fynde deeth, turn vp this croked wey.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18b/b : [The devil] hatte croked & wrawide adder for his lurkynge in þis dirke aier.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)91/16 : If þat a festre..go bi crokid [L tortuosa] placis..of þe face.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.29 : Shal neuere..on croked kene þorne kynde fygys wexe.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2507 : Up into a gret krukyd tre þai wane.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)987 : The foule croked bowe hidous, That knotty was.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6191 : This argument..is not worth a croked brere.
- a1500(?a1425) Ipom.(2) (Hrl 2252)300/1648 : Armure he toke..And horsyd hym on an old rouncy..A crokyd spere he toke hym than.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)145/10 : Þat þe mouþ be not crokid.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.28] 92a : These same signes fro the heued of capricorne to the ende of geminis ben clepid tortuos signes or croked signes, for thei arise embelif on oure orizonte. & these crokede signes ben obedient to the signes that ben of riȝt ascencion.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3137 : His nose frounced, full kirked stood.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)85b/b : Som [fistulez] is riȝt, som oblique or croked.
e
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)67 : Þe playne..es noght evene..bot..es lift vp and croked.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)5138 : Euery perfit body..Is rounde and crokyd, and nogh streghte.
f
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.57 : A crokyd cake makyth a stronge wombe: Tortula curuata dat viscera fortificata.
2a.
(a) Of a member of the body: misshapen, crippled; of the back: humped; of the neck or the nose: twisted, distorted; of the hands: crippled or clenched; (b) of a person: misshapen, crippled; lame; as noun: a cripple; (c) decrepit with age, infirm, feeble; ~ age, elde.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)356 : Þis wumman..hire crokede hond streiȝhte forthþ, and a-non-riȝht hol bi-cam.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)96/196 : Heo heled..tweyne þat weren croked, fot and honde.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)68.28 : Dimmed be þair eghen..And þaire bak ai croked [L incurva] be.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)105/11 : In empistonies þe necke is crokid, his mouþ is open.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.21.18 : With greet and crokid [WB(2): wrong; L torto] noose.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)202 : Ful croked were hir hondis two, For coveitise is evere wod To gripen other folkis god.
- a1425 By a forest (Bod 596)170 : Croked beth my lymes alle.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)70/28 : His schulderis croked, his teth oute of þe mouth.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1251 : Brod were hys eyȝen..hys nose Brod and Croked.
- ?a1500(a1471) Brut-1461(2) (Lyell 34)7 : Edmund hadde a crokid bak and was a mysshape.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)384/270 : Museles and crokede ek and þat weren in palasye, Ful þicke huy stoden in þe place.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2500 : A man þat..ybore was croked of his moder.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)896 : Þe croked men þou madest gon.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)56/25 : Þe blynde to liȝte, þe crokede to riȝte.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.35 : Who-so falle at meschief, en pouerte, croked, blyn..he ssal han seuene penes in þe woke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.560 : This blynde man they mette, Croked and old.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)12260 : Þe pouer to haue of riches bote and þe croked to ga on fote.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)22829 : If þat ani..Was wemmid ouþir on fot or hand..Cripil, crokil [Vsp: croked; Frf: crokid], or turned on baft.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)37.6 : Wrecched and croked [L curvatus] til ende am I.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.109 : Pieres..salued syke and synful, bothe blynde and crokede.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.97 : These were almes..to comfortie suche cotyers, and crokede men and blynde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.121 : He was croked, lame, & blynde.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)131/298 : Crokid men war made ful right.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)49/66 : Croked and lame rase vp ful right.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)141b/b : Of which a man is curued or croked & lettyd in mouyng.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)171 : Þe boyes were so wery for-fught Þat þay myȝt not fyȝt mare oloft, But creped þen about..As þey were croked crepyls.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.846 : He was allone..Shelde & protectour..in my croked age!
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)98a/a : In old croked men.
- c1430 Lydg.TG (Cmb Gg.4.27)14/3c : This is the maner of krokede fer in age.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)182 : Maydens ȝung of age..pleined sore..That þei were coupled, againes al nature, Wiþ croked elde.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)59/6 : A man vnweldye and crokid of age.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)154 : A laythe lede..Croked and courbede, encrampeschett for elde.
- ?a1475(a1449) Lydg.Death's Warning (Dc 322)20 : Beaute declyneth..And lytyll and lytyll..Cometh croked elde.
2b.
Of animals: (a) misshapen, crippled; (b) decrepit (horse).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mal.1.8 : Ȝif ȝe offren a crokid [L claudum] and seek [beast], wher it is not yuel?
b
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)614 : Thay horsede hym on ane olde crokede stede.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4166 : A crokkid hors neuere is the bet entecched, Al-þogh his bridel glistre of gold.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)775/29 : They bounde his leggys undir an olde steedis bealy..uppon a croked courser.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)6240 : His hors myght vnnethe goo for lene, Hit was an old crokyd meyre.
3.
Stooped; ~ gon, to walk with a stoop; bow (humbly).
Associated quotations
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)20 : He leneþ on is forke ase a grey frere; þis crokede caynard, sore he is adred.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.12.10 : Ne trowe thou to thin enemy..if meekid he go crookid [L vadat curvus]..keep thee fro hym.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)29/242 : I wexe a wrecche..Croked and careful yede al day.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.54 : Now crokid & now vpriht, Now as a crepil lowe coorbid doun [etc.].
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)114 : Thai gon crokyd and ben feble, not able to fight.
4.
Fig. (a) Wrong, misguided; defective, rude; (b) wrongful, injust; as noun: an injustice; (c) false, crafty, treacherous; slanderous (speech); (d) wicked, sinful.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.440 : With his croked eloquence, He [strife] spekth al that he wot withinne.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)653 : His clannes and his cortaysye croked were neuer.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)158/18 : Ȝif þe vnderstondynge be croked..or ȝif sche crokeþ aȝenwarde as doþ a vyne knyf.
- a1456 Shirley TContents(1) (Add 16165)90 : Whane ye haue þis booke ouerlooked Þe right lynes with þe crooked And þe sentence vnderstonden.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1233 : If þou be croked and crabbed of speche..and comberous to please..al hir loue hoolly þou shalt leese.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.195 : Thy rude and crukit eloquens.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)181 : For covetyse..and croked dedez.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)8 : Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse, In trust of hir that turneth as a bal: Gret reste stant in litel besinesse.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1363 : For the Reavmes right it is leefull than To aventure youre bodie..And be neuer fals for croked Couetise.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)26b : Þe cat of helle..droh ut al þe bodi efter wið clokes of crokede & kene fondunges.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2343 : Vices tenhaunce..With many onlefful croked condiciouns..Themsilff delityng for to be bestiall.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)875 : Allas! hir frendeschipe is croked & lame.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.5 : Yf þe coke be croked or soward mane, Take sope, cast in hys potage [etc.].
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Say Best (LdMisc 598)8 : Crokid langage is a ful perilous thefe, Robbith the fame of vertuous innocens.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1537 : By croked tongis many a man is slayn.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2991 : When a woman..is passed all drede and shame, She shall haue ynow that woll chepe hir ware And to dresse hir into a croked frame.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.824 : Many a mannes lyff he hath berafte..he shetith a croked shafte, And sleith so couertly þat no man can esspye.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.624 : Croked harlot.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.3 : Þese newe religiouse..to crokid and to foule to ony man to go to hevene, for hem wantiþ riȝtnesse þat þei feynen in þer signes.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)31.14 : Krokid of hert ere tha that says that god is vnrightwis.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)32.1 : The right men bicomes louynge, noght the krokid in couaytys, fore thaire is na faire louynge in a synful mouth.
5.
Cpds. (a) croked-bakked, humpbacked; ~ rigge, a humpback; ~ fot, one who limps; (b) ~ lane, a place name.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.21.19 : If crokid rigge [L gibbus] or bleer eyed.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38b/a : Loripes: crokedfot.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)164/1 : Ilk man..þat was owder crukyd-bakkid or skabbid.
b
- (1277-8) in Harben Dict.Lond.181 : La Crokedelane.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)257/10 : Woundes þat comen to þe crokede synowes, þai engendre euerlastynge horsenes.
Note: New combination for sense 2a.(a).
Note: Gloss: "~ sineu, the recurrent laryngeal nerve."
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.16ra (1.4) : 7 ages of man:..Infantehede, i. while he can noȝt speken, chilþe, ȝouthe, bachiler ȝonge man, sadde man, olde man, and crekede and bedred for olde.
Note: New form: Also..crekede.
Note: Quot. antedates sense 2a.(c).
Note: Editor's gloss: 'decrepit, crippled with old age'.
- a1500(?1451) Poem Waynflete (Add 60577)74 : Lat prestis be streight and straite of lyvynge withyn As þe lylie growethe, nott crokede in consciens.
Note: Quot. needed for date in sense 4.(d).
- (1231) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)273 : Crokydayk.
- (1260) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)273 : Crokedayk.
- (1288) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)273 : le Crokedhayk.
- (1370) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)273 : Cruddayk.
- (1438) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)273 : Crokdaike.
- (1479) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)10 : Crokit-burn.
Note: Supplementary material for sense 5.(b), needed for date and / or form.
Note: Keep the existing quot. in sense 5.(b), but remove existing gloss and replace it with "in names."
Note: New forms: Also..(in names) crokd-, crokit-, crudd-.
Note: In sense 1.(a), the combination ~ ayen, the use of 'ayen' may have been influenced by a literal translation of the Latin prefix re-.
Note: Check the etymon for this word. (Word is neither in Bosworth-Toller nor in the DOE.) There is a reference in Holthausen, but it is gecrōcod, which he derives from *crōc.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section: Also crokede, crokked, cruked, crukit, & crekede, kirked (early) icroked, (?error) crokil, (in names) crokd-, crokit-, crudd-.--all notes per MLL