crock1
/krɒk
/noun
1An earthenware pot or jar: the runner beans were then packed in layers of salt in large crocks...
- When we were nearly done planting, Michael went down to the root cellar and brought back a bucket and two earthenware crocks.
- Similarly, ‘printed’ butter could also be packed in large crocks, covered with salt water, and cooled in the springhouse.
- The beans, most often scarlet runners, were sliced and salted in a crock for the winter.
Synonyms
earthenware pot, pot, jar, urn, pitcher, jug, ewer;
vessel, container, receptacle, repository;
North American creamer
historical jorum
archaic reservatory
1.1A broken piece of earthenware.Last month's included a tip new to me, using teabags instead of crocks for the bottom of containers.
1.2A plate, cup, or other item of crockery: I ate my tea and then I washed up the dirty crocks...
- In fact, if the dirty crocks get too mountainous, they can simply chuck them away.
- Peter fires a hose of steaming water at the crocks before they're run through the main dishwashers.
Synonyms
crockery, pots, dishes, plates, bowls, cups;
dinner things, tea things;
pottery, earthenware, stoneware
2 (also vulgar slang crock of shit) chiefly North American Something considered to be complete nonsense: this whole business of an electronic community is a crock what a crock!
Origin
Old English croc, crocca, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse krukka and probably to Dutch kruik and German Krug.
Rhymes
crock2
/krɒk/informal
noun British
1An old person who is considered to be feeble and useless: I’m an old crock and he’s an old buffer...
- As we sprinted away from home plate, I found myself in the disconcerting position of being a step behind the old crock.
- How, a perplexed public is asking, did a thirty-nine year old crock manage to swim through the air and prevent what was a certain goal?
- He plays a pompous old crock of a secondary teacher.
1.1An old and worn-out vehicle.
verb [with object]
1British Injure (part of the body): he crocked a shoulder in the test against South Africa...
- He has a habit, he admits ruefully, of crocking himself.
- He had got off to a flyer in the first Test against New Zealand, and then crocked his shoulder.
- Has anyone else nearly crocked their ankle on the newly re-laid cobbles?
1.1 (as adjective crocked) North American Drunk: his party guests were pretty crocked...
- On the surface, of course, the trip seemed like a fantastic lark - drive to Louisville, do some interviews, and get crocked with the good Doctor.
- It wouldn't be long before Bill would show up at some meeting just crocked.
- Getting crocked up to the eyeballs before the clock had ticked over from am to pm was not a good habit to get into.
Origin
Late Middle English: perhaps from Flemish, and probably related to crack. Originally a Scots term for an old ewe, it came in the late 19th century to denote an old or broken-down horse.