Main Entry: ¹crane

Pronunciation: \ˈkrān\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English cran, from Old English; akin to Old High German krano crane, Greek geranos, Latin grus

Date: before 12th century

1 : any of a family (Gruidae of the order Gruiformes) of tall wading birds superficially resembling the herons but structurally more nearly related to the rails
2 : any of several herons
3 : an often horizontal projection swinging about a vertical axis: as a : a machine for raising, shifting, and lowering heavy weights by means of a projecting swinging arm or with the hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead track b : an iron arm in a fireplace for supporting kettles c : a boom for holding a motion-picture or television camera

[crane illustration]