Obs. [OE. crúce fem. pot, little pitcher, ‘urceolus,’ cognate with OS. krûka (MDu. crûke, Du. kruik, MHG. krûche, dial. Ger. krauche). The LG. word was prob. the source of F. cruche, and the ME. of Welsh crwe, which has no Celtic cognates. OTeut. *krûka- is perh. in ablaut relation to the family of CROCK.] A pitcher, a jug.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss., 989. Trulla, crucae [so Erf.; Corpus 2051 cruce].
a. 800. Corpus Gloss., 2165. Urciolum, waetercruce.
a. 1000. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 281/32. Urciolum, cruce.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 238. Whan that dronken was al in the crouke [2 MSS. crowke].
