Coopering. In 7 croes, crowes. [perh. derived from F. creux, OF. croz, hollow, cavity, groove, excavation, creuser, OF. croser, to hollow out, excavate.
Quot. 1706 (repeated in a number of 18th c. Dicts.) appears to be due to a combination of blunders; crome is prob. a misprint for crowe; and croe, crowe, fictitious singulars due to mistaking Cotgrave’s croes, crowes, for plurals.]
1. The groove at the ends of the staves of a cask, barrel, etc., to receive the edge of the head.
1611. Cotgr., Enjabler, to rigoll a peece of caske; or, to make the Crowes; also, to make the head fit for the Crowes. Ibid., Jables, the croes of a peece of caske; the furrow, or hollow (at either end of the pipe-staues) whereinto the head-peeces be enchased.
[1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Croe or Crome … an Iron-bar or Leaver … also a notch in the Side-boards of a Cask or Tub, where the Head-pieces come in.]
1852. Board of Fisheries Notice (May 15), The present cran…. The Staves not to be under two Inches, nor to exceed four Inches in breadth, and no croze to be allowed.
1880. Libr. Univ. Knowl., Barrel-making machinery, A croze, or groove, to receive the head.
2. A cooper’s tool for making the groove in cask staves, etc.
a. 1846. Worcester cites Newton.
1846–50. trans. Holzapffel’s Turning, II. 488. The cooper’s croze is used for making the grooves for the heading of casks.
1888. Addy, Sheffield Gloss., Croze-stock, the wooden handle into which a croze is fitted.
