crock

¹

[ krok ]

noun

1. an earthenware pot, jar, or other container.
2. a fragment of earthenware; potsherd.
3. Slang. euphemistic shortening of crock of shit.

crock

²

[ krok ]

noun

1. a person or thing that is old, decrepit, or broken-down.
2. Slang. a person who complains about or insists on being treated for an imagined illness.
3. an old ewe.
4. an old worn-out horse.

verb (used with object)

1. British Slang. to disable or injure.

crock

³

[ krok ]

noun

1. British Dialect. soot; smut.
2. excess surface dye from imperfectly dyed cloth.

verb (used with object)

1. British Dialect. to soil with soot.

verb (used without object)

1. (of cloth) to give off excess surface dye when rubbed.

crock

¹

/ krɒk /

noun

1. dialect.
   soot or smut
2. colour that rubs off fabric

verb

1. dialect.
   tr to soil with or as if with soot
2. intr (of a dyed fabric) to release colour when rubbed, as a result of imperfect dyeing

crock

²

/ krɒk /

noun

1. slang.
   a person or thing, such as a car, that is old or decrepit (esp in the phrase old crock )
2. an old broken-down horse or ewe

verb

1. slang.
   to become or cause to become weak or disabled

crock

³

/ krɒk /

noun

1. an earthen pot, jar, etc
2. a piece of broken earthenware
3. informal.
   Alsocrock of shit a quantity or source of lies or nonsense

Word History and Origins

Origin of crock¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English crokke, Old English croc(c), crocca “pot”; cognate with Old Norse krukka “jug”

Origin of crock²

First recorded in 1520–30; Middle English crok “old ewe,” perhaps akin to crack (verb) and obsolete crack “whore”; compare Low German krakke “broken-down horse”

Origin of crock³

First recorded in 1650–60; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of crock¹

C17: probably from crock ¹

Origin of crock²

C15: originally Scottish; related to Norwegian krake unhealthy animal, Dutch kraak decrepit person or animal

Origin of crock³

Old English crocc pot; related to Old Norse krukka jug, Middle Low German krūke pot

Example Sentences

But just as different habitats have unique combinations of plants and animals, so too did every crock and jar have its own distinct microbial world because of minor differences in preparation or ingredients.

From Salon

I keep one crock of utensils on the counter, all others live in drawers.

From Seattle Times

For some people, it’s “go big or go home,” with feasts complete with grills, crock pots and warming trays.

From Washington Times

Pasta layered in a crock with vegetable-sweetened ground beef, chicken stock and a cheese-topped crouton is thick enough to warrant a fork.

From Washington Post

In my own kitchen, I decided to ditch my utensil crock and moved all my spatulas, wooden spoons and tongs to a drawer to regain precious counter space.

From Salon