Crosswind

A side-wind; an unfavorable wind; an adverse wind. Cro 'wise, adv . Acro ; in the form of a cro . Cro '-wort, n. ( Bot . ) A name of GALLIUM CRUCIATUM, Crotala'ria, n. [Gr. krotalon , a rattle.] ( Bot . ) A very extensive genus of tropical herbs or shrubs of the order Fabaceæ , the most important of which is the C. juncea . the Sun , Sunn, or Shunum Hemp of India, a plant extensively cultivated for its fibre, which is considered equal, if not superior, to Ru ian hemp. The genus is represented in this country by C. sagittal is , the Rattlebox, a plant about a foot high, with a hairy aspect, and inflated pods, in woods and sandy fields, N. H. to Ark. Stem herbaceous, rigid. Leaves alternate, entire, nearly se ile, rounded at the base. The plant is best distinguished by its opposite, united, decurrent stipules, 80 situated that each pair appears inversely sagittate. Sepals long, hairy. Corolla small, yellow. Seeds few, rattling in the turgid pod. It blo oms in June. Crotal'idæ, n . pl . ( Zool .) See RATTLESNAKE. Cro'talum, n. (Gr. krotalor .] ( Antiq .) An ancient kind of castanet, used by the Corybantes, or priests of Cybele. This instrument must not be confounded with the modern crotalo , a musical instrument used chiefly by the Turks, and corresponding exactly with the ancient cymbalum. Crotch, ( kroch, ) n. [Fr. croc, crochet.] A fork or forking; the parting of two legs or branches. "Save step for a stile of the crotch and the bough."- Tu er. ( Naut.) See CRANE. Crotched, ( krocht ,) a. Forked; having a crotch; as a crotched stick. - A term for peevish, testy, ill-humored; used in some parts of England; as, a crotched old bachelor. Crotch'er's Ferry, in Maryland, a former post office of Dor chester co. Crotchet, ( kroch'et,) n. [Fr. crochet, dim. of croc, a hook.] A small crotch or hook, or forked piece of wood, "The crotchets of their cot in columns rise." - Dryden. -A peculiar turn of the mind; an eccentric tendency; a whim or fancy; a perverse conceit. Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy head now." - Shaks. ( Mus .) A note in music, equal in duration to the half of a minim, or the fourth of a semibreve; written thus: or -pl. ( Printing.) Hooks or brackets inclosing words thus [1. ( Fortif .) A break in the glacis belonging to a covered way. ( Mil .) Formation of troops in an order parallel to the line of battle. cates its shape, and which is used in the extraction of the fœtus, when it becomes nece ary to destroy it to expedite its delivery. ( Naut .) Crooked pieces of iron, used on board sloops and long-boats. Crotch'eted, a. Marked with crotchets; po e ing musical notation.