n. & v.
--n.
1. a a child's bed with barred or latticed sides; a cot. b a model of the Nativity of Christ, with a manger as a bed.
2 a barred container or rack for animal fodder.
3 colloq. a a translation of a text for the (esp. surreptitious) use of students. b plagiarized work etc.
4 a small house or cottage.
5 a framework lining the shaft of a mine.
6 colloq. a cribbage. b a set of cards given to the dealer at cribbage by all the players.
7 heavy crossed timbers used in foundations in loose soil etc.
8 sl. a brothel.
9 Austral. & NZ a light meal; food.
--v.tr. (also absol.) (cribbed, cribbing)
1. colloq. copy (another person's work) unfairly or without acknowledgement.
2 confine in a small space.
3 colloq. pilfer, steal.
4 colloq. grumble.
Phrases and idioms:
crib-biting a horse's habit of biting the manger while noisily breathing in and swallowing.
Derivatives:
cribber n.
Etymology: OE crib(b)