Cran"ber*ry (krăn"b&ebreve;r*r&ybreve;), n.; pl. Cranberries (- r&ibreve;z). [So named from its fruit being ripe in the spring when the cranes return. Dr. Prior.] (Bot.) A red, acid berry, much used for making sauce, etc.; also, the plant producing it (several species of Vaccinum or Oxycoccus.) The high cranberry or cranberry tree is a species of Viburnum (V. Opulus), and the other is sometimes called low cranberry or marsh cranberry to distinguish it.
Cranch (kr?nch), v. t. See Craunch.
Crane (krān), n. [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan, G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. ge`ranos, L. grus, W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav&ibreve;, Lith. gerve, Icel. trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. √24. Cf. Geranium.] 1. (Zo÷l.) A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.
&fist; The common European crane is Grus cinerea. The sand-hill crane (G. Mexicana) and the whooping crane (G. Americana) are large American species. The Balearic or crowned crane is Balearica pavonina. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and cormorants.
2. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of Derrick.
3. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.