Also 8 croke. [See CROAK v.]
1. The deep hoarse sound made by a frog or raven. Also transf. and fig.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 225 b. They play the waterfrogs, singyng cronke croake.
1632. Rowley, Woman never vext, III. in Hazl., Dodsley, XII. 160. O thou fatal raven! let me pull thine eyes out For this sad croak.
1766. Pennant, Zool. (1812), II. 157. (Puffin Auk) The hoarse, deep, periodical croak of the corvorants.
1861. Trollope, Barchester T., xliv. ‘I told you so, I told you so!’ is the croak of a true Job’s comforter.
2. Hawking. (See quot. 1891.) Also pl. (Cf. CROCK sb.4)
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch (1710), 400. The Croke is evidently an Asthmatic Disposition produced by hard flying. Ibid., 401. The Noise called the Croke was made by Expiration and not by Inspiration.
1891. Harting, Gloss. Falconry, Croaks, or Kecks, Fr. crac, a disease of the air-passages, analogous to a cough, and so called from the sound the bird makes during any exertion, such as bating, or flying.
