Main Entry: ²crew

Pronunciation: \ˈkrü\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English crue, from Middle French, reinforcement, literally, increase, from crue, feminine past participle of croistre to grow, from Latin crescere — more at crescent

Date: 15th century

1 archaic : a band or force of armed men
2 a : a group of people associated together in a common activity or by common traits or interests b : gang 1b(2)
3 a : a company of people working on one job or under one foreman or operating a machine b : the whole company belonging to a ship sometimes including the officers and master; also : one who assists the skipper of a sailboat c : the persons who have duties on an aircraft in flight d : the rowers and coxswain of a racing shell; also : rowing

— crew·less \-ləs\ adjective