ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cranny

n.
US //ˈkɹæni// UK //kɹˈæni// cran·ny Archaic
Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English crany, crani (“cranny”), apparently a diminutive of cran (+ -y), from Old French cran, cren (“notch, fissure”), a derivative of crener (“to notch, split”), from Medieval Latin crenō (“split”, verb), from Vulgar Latin crinō (“split, break”, verb), of obscure origin. Despite a spurious use in Pliny, connection to Latin crēna is doubtful. Instead, probably of Germanic or Celtic origin. Compare Old High German chrinna (“notch, groove, crevice”), Alemannic German Krinne (“small crack, channel, groove”), Low German karn (“notch, groove, crevice, cranny”), Old Irish ara-chrinin (“to perish, decay”).

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Hindustani किरानी (kirānī) / کِرانِی (kirānī).

Idioms5 entries

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