■ noun chiefly Brit. a narrow, sheltered waterway such as an inlet in a shoreline or channel in a marsh.
↘ N. Amer. & Austral./NZ a stream or minor tributary of a river.
Phrases
up the ~ informal
1》 in severe difficulty or trouble.
2》 Brit. stupid or misguided.
Origin
ME: from OFr. crique or from ON kriki 'nook'.