croup

1 of 2

noun (1)

: the rump of a quadruped

croup

2 of 2

noun (2)

: inflammation, edema, and subsequent obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi especially of infants and young children that is typically caused by a parainfluenza virus and is marked by episodes of difficult breathing and low-pitched cough resembling the bark of a seal
croupy adjective

Examples of croup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
What's more, children's hospitals have also been inundated with kids sick with other respiratory viruses, such as severe colds, croup and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. NBC News, 5 Aug. 2021 In addition, doctors have noticed another symptom in young kids: a barking cough that resembles croup. Nicole Harris, Parents, 29 Sep. 2023 Prescription medications for croup might include glucocorticoids for mild cases of croup or dexamethasone or epinephrine for moderate to severe croup. Ashley Abramson, Health, 9 Mar. 2023 Also, croup causes swelling of the voice box and the windpipe, which are part of the upper respiratory tract. Ashley Abramson, Health, 9 Mar. 2023 Most croup cases resolve on their own within a week, but parents should be wary of symptoms that persist after seven days. Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2022 But again some good news: croup symptoms usually go away in about three days. Josh Fischman, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2022 Kids this young, whose bodies are still so early in development, are especially vulnerable to croup-like illnesses when viruses invade their lungs; the coronavirus also seems to increase the risk of developing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, that permanently alter a child’s way of life. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 June 2022 Omicron appears to be causing milder illness than previous variants, but early research has also suggested that Omicron may trigger more upper-airway problems, which can be more dangerous for young children, potentially leading to croup and bronchiolitis. Eliza MacKintosh, CNN, 11 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'croup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English croupe, croup, borrowed from Anglo-French croupe (also continental Old French), probably going back to an Old Low Franconian outcome of Germanic *kruppa- "something rounded, bulge" — more at crop entry 1

Note: This etymology is traditional, and phonetically impeccable, though "hindquarters of an animal" is not among the many meanings attested in Germanic for this etymon. Compare group entry 1. See also croupier, crupper.

Noun (2)

noun derivative of croup "to cry hoarsely, croak" (now English regional and Scots), probably of imitative origin

Note: Compare synonymous 16th-century crope, croape, and crow entry 2, croak entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1765, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of croup was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near croup

Cite this Entry

“Croup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/croup. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

croup

1 of 2 noun
: the rump of a four-footed animal

croup

2 of 2 noun
: a laryngitis especially of infants marked by periods of difficult breathing and a hoarse cough
croupy adjective
Etymology

Noun

Middle English croupe "rump," from early French croupe (same meaning), of Germanic origin

Noun

from an English dialect word croup "to cry or cough"; probably originally imitating the sound

Medical Definition

croup

noun
: inflammation, edema, and subsequent obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi especially of infants and young children that is typically caused by a parainfluenza virus and is marked by episodes of difficult breathing and low-pitched cough resembling the bark of a seal
croupous adjective
croupy adjective
croupier; croupiest

More from Merriam-Webster on croup

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