Heading
Crevice, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Cri, subs. (popular).—The Criterion,
theatre and restaurant,
at Piccadilly Circus.
c. 1886. Broadside Ballad, 'Another Fellah's.' Round into the cri ev'ry evening I slip, And deep in the pale sparkling bitter I dip.
Crib, subs. (old).—1. The stomach.
Cf., Cribbing, sense 1. [A
transferred sense of crib = a
manger, rack, or feeding place.
Cf., Isaiah i., 3, 'The ox knoweth
his owner, and the ass his
master's crib.'] For synonyms,
see Bread-basket and Victualling
office.
1656. Brome, Jovial Crew, Act. ii. Here's pannum and lap, and good poplars of Yarrum, To fill up the crib, and to comfort the quarron.
2. (colloquial).—A house; place of abode; apartments; lodgings; shop; warehouse; 'den,' 'diggings,' or 'snuggery.' For synonyms, see Diggings. [From A.S., crib, or cribb a small habitation.]
1598. Shakspeare, King Henry IV. Why, rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Than in the perfumed chambers of the great?
1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 80 (ed. 1854). Now, now in the crib, where a ruffler may lie, Without fear that the traps should distress him.
1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xix. The crib's barred up at night like a jail.
1847. Illus. London News, 22 May. The burglar has his crib in Clerkenwell.
1860. Chambers' Journal, vol. XIII., p. 212. He said he was awful flattered like by the honour of seeing two such gents at his crib.
1882. Daily News, 5 Oct., p. 5, col. 2. To manage escapes from prison successfully is only an application of the principles which enable the burglar to crack the rural crib and appropriate the swag of her Majesty's peaceful subjects.
3. (popular).—A situation, 'place,' or 'berth.' [The transition from subs., sense 2, is easy and natural.]
4. (school and University).—A literal translation surreptitiously used by students; also a theft of any kind; specifically, anything copied without acknowledgment.—[See verb., sense 2.] For synonyms, see Pony.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 185. He has with a prudent forethought stuffed his cribs inside his double-breasted waistcoat.
1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 64.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxii. I wish I had read Greek a little more at school . . . when we return I think I shall try and read it with cribs.
1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown's School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. Tom, I want you to give up using vulgus books and cribs.
1889. Globe, 12 Oct., p. 1, col. 4. Always, it seems likely, there will be men 'going up' for examinations; and every now and again, no doubt, there will be among them a wily 'Heathen Pass-ee' like him of whom Mr. Hilton speaks—who had cribs up his sleeve, and notes on his cuff.
5. (thieves').—A bed.—[See subs., senses 2 and 3.]
1827. Maginn, from Vidocq. Lend me a lift in the family way. You may have a crib to stow in.
Verb (colloquial).—1. To steal or pilfer; used specifically of petty thefts. For synonyms, see Prig.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Crib (v.): to with-hold, keep back, pinch,
