I. ˈkraft, -raa(ə)ft, -raift, -rȧft noun
( -s ; see sense 6 )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cræft strength, skill — more at crave
1. obsolete : strength , force
2. : skillfulness in planning, making, or executing : artistic dexterity
great craft in catching fish
manual craft
— often used in combination
stage craft
siege craft
wine craft
campaign craft
3.
a. : an occupation, trade, or pursuit requiring manual dexterity or the application of artistic skill
the carpenter's craft
the craft of playwriting
learn a craft from the ground up
b. : any one of the seven divisions of Camp Fire Girl activities
4.
a. obsolete : expedient , trick , artifice
b. : skill in deceiving for the promotion of one's own ends : cunning , guile
an enemy of great craft and subtlety
Henry, out of a lifetime of political craft , coached Cranmer how to turn the tables on his accusers — Francis Hackett
5.
a. : the members of a particular trade or an association of these : guild
the craft of ironmongers
b. often capitalized : the brotherhood of Freemasons
6. plural usually craft
a. : a boat especially of small size
a seaworthy craft
these fascinating craft that floated downstream — American Guide Series: Ind.
storm warnings put up for small craft
b. : aircraft
helicopter delivery service … using four craft — Tide
7.
[origin unknown]
: the equipment for catching and killing fish
Synonyms: see art
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to make or construct especially by or as if by hand
scale models he has crafted — Newsweek
III. ˈkraft
chiefly Scotland
variant of croft I