[ kru:'seɪd ]
■ noun
1》 any of a series of medieval military expeditions made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
↘a war instigated for alleged religious ends.
2》 a vigorous campaign with a political, social, or religious aim: a ~ against crime.
■ verb [often as adjective crusading ] lead or take part in a ~.
Derivatives
~r noun
Origin
C16: from Fr. croisade , alt. (influenced by Sp. cruzado ) of earlier croisée , lit. 'the state of being marked with the cross', based on L. crux , cruc- 'cross'.