Crick"et (kr?k"?t), n. [OE. criket, OF. crequet, criquet; prob. of German origin, and akin to E. creak; cf. D. kriek a cricket. See Creak.] (Zo÷l.) An orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllus, and allied genera. The males make chirping, musical notes by rubbing together the basal parts of the veins of the front wings.
&fist; The common European cricket is Gryllus domesticus; the common large black crickets of America are G. niger, G. neglectus, and others.
Balm cricket. See under Balm. -- Cricket bird, a small European bird (Silvia locustella); -- called also grasshopper warbler. -- Cricket frog, a small American tree frog (Acris gryllus); -- so called from its chirping.
Crick"et, n. [AS. cricc, crycc, crooked staff, crutch. Perh. first used in sense 1, a stool prob. having been first used as a wicket. See Crutch.] 1. A low stool.
2. A game much played in England, and sometimes in America, with a ball, bats, and wickets, the players being arranged in two contesting parties or sides.
3. (Arch.) A small false roof, or the raising of a portion of a roof, so as to throw off water from behind an obstacle, such as a chimney.
Crick"et, v. i. To play at cricket. Tennyson.
Crick"et*er (kr?k"?t-?r), n. One who plays at cricket.
Cri"coid (kr?"koid), a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; ring + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling a ring; -- said esp. of the cartilage at the larynx, and the adjoining parts.
Cri`co*thy"roid (-k?-th?"roid), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining both to the cricoid and the thyroid cartilages.
Cried (krīd), imp. & p. p. of Cry.
Cri"er (kr?"?r), n. [Cf. F. crieur. See Cry.] One who cries; one who makes proclamation. Specifically, an officer who proclaims the orders or directions of a court, or who gives public notice by loud proclamation; as, a town-crier.
He openeth his mouth like a crier.
Ecclus. xx. 15.
Crime (krīm), n.[F. crime, fr. L. crimen judicial decision, that which is subjected to such a decision, charge, fault, crime, fr. the root of cernere to decide judicially. See Certain.] 1. Any violation of law, either divine or human; an omission of a duty commanded, or the commission of an act forbidden by law.
2. Gross violation of human law, in distinction from a misdemeanor or trespass, or other slight offense. Hence, also, any aggravated offense against morality or the public welfare; any outrage or great wrong. "To part error from crime." Tennyson.
&fist; Crimes, in the English common law, are grave offenses which were originally capitally punished (murder, rape, robbery, arson, burglary, and larceny), as distinguished from misdemeanors, which are offenses of a lighter grade. See Misdemeanors.