dial. Also creuh, crow, crough. [app. of British origin: cf. earlier Welsh creu, crau, whence the singulative mod.W. crewyn, crowyn pen, sty, hovel, Cornish crow sty, hovel, hut, crow moh pig-sty, now in Cornwall a ‘pig’s crow,’ Breton kraou stable, stall, sheep-cote; Irish cró pen, hut, hovel; cf. CROO.]
1. A pen, cote or fold for animals, as pigs, sheep, fowls.
1669–81. Worlidge, Dict. Rust., Swyn-hull, or Swine-crue, a hog sty.
1863. Morton, Cycl. Agric., Gloss., Pig’s-crough (Cornw.), pig-stye.
1878. Cumbrld. Gloss., Swine creuh, a pig-sty; a dirty hull or house. ‘Her house is na better ner a swine creuh.’
1879. Shropshire Word-bk., Crew, a pen for ducks and geese. [So in Cheshire and Sheffield Gloss.]
b. Hence crew-yard, a close or yard with sheds for cattle.
1778. T. Bateman, Agistm. Tithe (ed. 2), 61. Confined to the House, or in a crew-yard.
1867. Stamford Mercury, 20 Sept. (in N. W. Linc. Gloss.). With hay and straw, and use of crews and sheds … with the use of the crew-yards until the 5th of April next.
1881. Gainsburgh Times, 21 Jan. The crew-yard will soon be required.
2. (In Cornwall crow.) A hut, a cabin.
1880. W. Cornwall Gloss., Crow, (as in crowd), a hut; a small house.
Crew, pa. t. of CROW v.
