crutch

UK: /ˈkrʌtʃ/ US: /krʌtʃ/ ,(kruch)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crutch /krʌtʃ/   n. [countable]

1. a staff or support to assist a person in walking, usually having a crosspiece at one end to fit under the armpit:
   I had to use crutches after I sprained my knee.
2. anything that serves as a temporary support or aid;
   prop:
   the use of liquor as a psychological crutch.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crutch  (kruch), n. 

1. a staff or support to assist a lame or infirm person in walking, now usually with a crosspiece at one end to fit under the armpit.
2. any of various devices resembling this in shape or use.
3. anything that serves as a temporary and often inappropriate support, supplement, or substitute;
   prop:
   He uses liquor as a psychological crutch.
4. a forked support or part.
5. the crotch of the human body.
6. Also, crotch. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms a forked support for a boom or spar when not in use.
   • Naval Terms a forked support for an oar on the sides or stern of a rowboat.
   • Naval Terms a horizontal knee reinforcing the stern frames of a wooden vessel.
7. a forked device on the left side of a sidesaddle, consisting of two hooks, one of which is open at the bottom and serves to clamp the left knee and the other of which is open at the top and serves to support the right knee.

v.t. 

8. to support on crutches;
   prop;
   sustain.

• bef. 900; Middle English crucche, Old English cryce (oblique crycce); cognate with Norwegian krykkja, Danish krykke, German Krücke, Dutch kruk. See crook¹

crutch′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crutch / krʌtʃ/ noun

1. a long staff of wood or metal having a rest for the armpit, for supporting the weight of the body
2. something that supports or sustains
3. 
   another word for crotch1

verb

1. (transitive) to support or sustain (a person or thing) as with a crutch
2. to clip (wool) from the hindquarters of a sheep

Etymology: Old English crycc; related to Old High German krucka, Old Norse krykkja; see crosier, crook