I. ˈkrüp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English croupe, from Old French crope, croupe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German kropf craw — more at crop
1.
a. : the part of the back above the hind limbs of a quadruped (as a horse) : rump , crupper — see horse illustration
b. : the place behind the saddle
2. obsolete : buttocks
3. : the part of a side horse to the right of the pommels
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably of imitative origin
1. now dialect Britain
a. : to cry hoarsely
the raven croups
b. : to speak hoarsely
2. : to cough with the hoarse ringing cough of croup
III. noun
( -s )
1. : a spasmodic laryngitis in infants and children characterized by episodes of difficult breathing and hoarse metallic cough that occur especially at night and may be relieved by steam inhalations
2. in domestic animals : any of several diseases or inflammatory conditions in which pseudomembranous deposits are formed in hollow organs