Crocodilidæ (krokodilide)

pl. Crocodilus + -ida.] The typical family of the order Crocodilia. It is characterized by procœlous vertebræ; pterygoids bounding the posterior nares res below; nasal bones composing the narial aperture to some extent; a straight maxillo-premaxillary suture or one convex backward; a mandibular symphysis not extending beyond the eighth tooth and not involving splenial elements; the cervical scutes distinct or not from the tergal ones; the teeth unequal, the first mandibular tooth biting into a fo a, the fourth into a groove; and the head shorter than includes two genera: Crocodilus, represented by the croc in Gavialidæ, but longer than in Alligator ide. The family odile of the Nile, C. niloticus, and other species; and Me cistops. See cuts under crocodile and Crocodilia. IMG:content-1646.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1647.png:[graphic] are dwarf herbs, with fibrous-coated corms, and gra -like leaves appearing after the flowers. Crocuses are found chiefly in the middle and southern parts of Europe and the Levant, and are especially abundant in Greece and Asia Minor. Some of the species are re vernal and others autumnal. The varieties in cultivation are very numerous, but mostly of vernal species, as these are the earliest of spring flowers. C. sativus yields the saffron of commerce, which consists of the orange stigmas of the flowers.. 3. Saffron, obtained from plants of the genus Crocus. See saffron.-4. A polishing-powder prepared from crystals of sulphate of iron, calcined in crucibles. It is the calcined powder taken from the bottom of the crucible, where the heat is most intense. The powder in the upper part is called rouge . Crocus is of a purple color, is the harder, and is used for ordinary work. Rouge is of a scarlet color, and is used for polishing gold and silver-work and specula. See col cothar. crodet, n. совет, [ crot , a crypt ( crota , cropta ) , same as grotte , a grot, cave: see grot , grotto, and crypt , doublets of crode .] A crypt. The Chirche of the holy Sepulcre. hath... Crodes and vowtes, Chapellys hygh and lowe, in grett nowmber, and mervell it ys to see the many Deferens and secrete places with in the sayd temple. Torkington , Diarie of Eng. Travell, p. 39. croft (kroft), n. [= Sc. craft , croft , croft , croft , a small inclosed field, = MD. kroft , krocht , high and dry land, krocht , crocht , a field IMG:content-1648.png:[blocks in formation] Erles & barons & kniztes thereto Habbeth bisougt the pope croiserie biginne on the downs, high and dry land, D. kroft, a hillock. Perhaps Celtic: cf. Gael. croit, a hump, hillock, croft; cruach, a pile, heap, stack, hill, verb cruach, pile up, heap up; Ir. croit, a hump, croyserie and kille his sheep. a small eminence; cruach , a pile, a rick, verb cruachaim, I pile up; W. crug , a hump, hillock.] A small piece of inclosed ground used for pas- ture, tillage, or other purposes; any small tract of land; a very small farm: applied especially to the small farms on the western coast and isl- ands of Scotland. Bi this lyflode [livelihood] I mot lyuen til Lamma e tyme; Bi that, ich hope forte haue heruest in my croft . Piers Plowman (A), vii. 277. Tending my flocks hard by i' the hilly crofts , That brow this bottom-glade. Milton , Comus, 1. 531. A little croft we owned-a plot of corn, A garden stored with peas and mint and thyme, And flowers for posies. Words worth , Guilt and Sorrow, st. 24. croft (krôft), v. t. [ Later methods [of bleaching linen] have been introduced in which the time of exposure on the gra , or crofting , as it is termed, is much shortened. W. Crookes, Dyeing and Calico-printing, p. 58. crofter (krôf'ter), n. [ croft + -er1.] One who occupies or cultivates a croft; specifically, a small farmer on the western coast and islands of Scotland. The Scotch crofter is a small land-tenant, to support him by tillage. He is the counterpart of the Irish cottier . IMG:content-1649.png:[blocks in formation] Gower, Conf. Amant., I. 272. Upe [the] & thine. Robert of Gloucester , p. 502. Crist tauzte not to his heerde [shepherd] to reise up a croislett, n. Wyclif, Select Works (ed. Arnold), I. 367. A crucible. See cro let2. IMG:content-1650.png:[blocks in formation] croi ant, croisant, a. and n. [ sant , F. croi ant, crescent: see crescent.] I.t soldier who fought under Cromwell. a. Crescent. Croi ant or new moone. II. n. 11. A crescent. In these pavilions were placed fifteen Olympian Knights, upon seats a little embowed near the form of a croisant . Beaumont , Masque of Inner-Temple. 2. [F. pron. krwo-son'.] In armor, the gu et of plate when crescent-shaped: a form which was adopted in the early part of the fifteenth century, especially for the defense of the armpit.