croup
croup Lexical Profile
croup Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An acute viral inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, especially in infants and young children, characterized by swelling of the larynx and trachea, breathing difficulties, and a distinctive hoarse, barking cough.
"The pediatrician recommended sitting in a steamy bathroom to help ease the toddler's croup."
The rump or hindquarters of a quadruped, especially a horse, extending from the loins to the base of the tail.
"The judge noted the stallion's muscular croup and well-proportioned hindquarters during the equestrian inspection."
• Rhymes for croup
Word Origin & Etymology
The medical sense originates from an early modern Scots verb meaning 'to cry hoarsely' of imitative origin. The anatomical sense denoting a horse's rump was borrowed separately in Middle English from Old French croupe, which is of Germanic origin.