Old Christy forgot his usual crustiness.
W. Irving.
Crust"y (-&ybreve;), a. 1. Having the nature of crust; pertaining to a hard covering; as, a crusty coat; a crusty surface or substance.
2. [Possibly a corruption of cursty. Cf. Curst, Curstness.] Having a hard exterior, or a short, rough manner, though kind at heart; snappish; peevish; surly.
Thou crusty batch of nature, what's the news?
Shak.
Crut (krŭt), n. [Cf. F. croűte crust.] The rough, shaggy part of oak bark.
Crutch (krŭch; 224), n.; pl. Crutches (-&ebreve;z). [OE. crucche, AS. crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G. krŘcke, Dan. krykke, Sw. krycka, and to E. crook. See Crook, and cf. Cricket a low stool.] 1. A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other.
Shak.
Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone.
H. Smith.
2. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
3. (Naut.) (a) A knee, or piece of knee timber. (b) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch. See Crotch.