[croup] n [ME croupe, fr. OF, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG kropf craw--more at crop] (14c): the rump of a quadruped
[2]croup n [E dial. croup to cry hoarsely, cough, prob. of imit. origin] (1765): a spasmodic laryngitis esp. of infants marked by episodes of difficult breathing and hoarse metallic cough -- croup.ous adj -- croupy adj