CROCK

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English crocc; akin to Old English crūce pot, pitcher, Middle High German krūche Date: before 12th century a thick earthenware pot or jar, soot , smut , coloring matter that rubs off from cloth or dyed leather, bunkum , II. verb Date: 1594 transitive verb to put or preserve in a ~, to soil with ~ ; smudge , intransitive verb to transfer color (as when rubbed or washed) , III. noun Etymology: Middle English crok; akin to Low German krakke broken-down horse Date: 1528 one that is broken-down, disabled, or impaired , a complaining medical patient whose illness is largely imaginary or psychosomatic, IV. verb Date: 1839 transitive verb to cause to become disabled, intransitive verb break down