NYT Dictionary

CRUTCH

/ˈkɹʌt͡ʃ/
NounVerbCRUTCHcrutch · 1 syllableGrade 2

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English crucche, from Old English cryċċ (“crutch, staff”), from Proto-West Germanic *krukkju, from Proto-Germanic *krukjō (“crutch, staff”), from Proto-Indo-European *grewg- (“wrinkle, bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate with Scots curche, crutch (“crutch, stilts”), Dutch kruk (“crutch”), Low German krukke, Krück (“crutch”), German Krücke (“crutch”), Swedish krycka (“crutch”). Latin crucia, crucca, croccia, crocia (“crutch”), and its descendants are ultimately from the Germanic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

advocatearmbackbackbonebackingbandeaubatonbearbearerbolster

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

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