| 释义 |
▪ I. cran1 Sc.|kræn|
[Of uncertain etymology: crann is used in Gaelic in same sense, and it has been suggested that it is the Gaelic crann ‘lot’, and was applied orig. to the ‘lot’ or share of fish that fell to each man engaged.]
A measure of capacity for fresh herrings as caught; fixed by the Fisheries Board at 37½ gallons (about 750 fish).
Up to 1815 the cran was measured by heaping full a herring-barrel with the ends taken out, which was then lifted, leaving the heap on the ground or floor. In 1816, the Commissioners for the Herring Fishery fixed the capacity of the ‘cran’ at 42 gallons, Old Wine Measure, which in 1832 was raised to 45 gallons, 42 gallons when ‘pined’ being found insufficient to make a barrel of bung-packed herrings. In 1852 the contents were given in Imperial measure as 37½ gals., making, when pined, a barrel of 30 gals.
1797Statist. Acc. Scotl. XIX. 282 (Lewis) They..bought the herring..at the great price of from 9s. to 12s. per crane (which is the full of a barrel of green fish as taken out of the net. 1815Act 55 Geo. III, c. 94 §13 If..any cran or measure not so marked..shall be made use of..in the British herring fishery. 1852Board of Fisheries Notice (May 15), The Commissioners for the Herring fishery..do hereby give notice that from and after the date hereof, the Cran shall be of the contents or capacity of Thirty-seven Gallons and One Half Gallon Imperial Standard Measure..That it shall be made of Oak Staves..that it shall be bound with Six good Iron hoops, etc. 1870Pall Mall G. 3 Sept. 4 The catch for the season is now nearly 90,000 crans.
▪ II. cran2 Sc.
[A Scotch form of the word crane.]
†1. Applied formerly to the crane and the heron. Obs. (See Jamieson Suppl.)
2. The ordinary name of the Swift in the south of Scotland.
1840[Remembered in actual use]. 1861J. C. Atkinson Brit. Birds' Eggs 69 Swift (Cypselus apus): Deviling, Black Martin, Screech..Cran. 1880Berw. Nat. Club 230 The Swift called ‘Cran’.
3. ‘An iron instrument, laid across the fire, reaching from the ribs of the grate to the hinder part of it, for the purpose of supporting a pot or kettle’ (Jamieson).
4. to coup the crans: fig. to have an upset, come to grief; see coup v.3 2. (By Jamieson referred to sense 3; but perh. belonging to cran1.)
a1796Burns Answ. Poet. Epist. v, Garren lasses cowp the cran Clean heels owre body. 1818Scott Rob Roy xix, The trades..offered downright battle to the commons, rather than their kirk should coup the crans. |