Chiefly Sc. Also 6 crocke, 6–8 crok. [Cf. Norw. krake, krakje a sickly, weakly, or emaciated beast (Aasen), Sw. krake, Da. krak, krakke; LG. krake, krakke, NFris. krack a sorry, broken-down horse; MDu. kraecke, MFlem. krake a broken-down horse or house; EFris. krakke a broken-down horse, house, or old man: all app. related to CRACK v.]
1. An old ewe, or one that has ceased bearing. Also crock ewe.
1528. Lyndesay, Dreme, 893. Quho wyll go sers amang sic heirdis scheip, May habyll fynd mony pure scabbit crok.
1570. Levins, Manip., 158. A crocke, shepe, adasia.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), II. 182. Twa croks that moup amang the heather.
1785. Burns, Twa Herds, i. Wha will tent the waifs and crocks?
1842. Bischoff, Woollen Manuf., II. 139. The crock ewes.
2. An old broken-down horse.
1879. Daily News, 7 March, 6/1. I was riding a broken-kneed old crock.
1892. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Nevermore, III. xxii. 131. That horse of hers is a plum…. I’d like to have him, I know, instead of my old crock.
3. slang. Used contemptuously of persons.
1891. Farmer, Slang Dict., Applied to men and things, crock is synonymous with worthlessness and folly.
