creekn.¹

Brit.

/kriːk/, U.S.

/krik/,

/krɪk/

Forms: α. Middle English krike, Middle English cryke, ( kryk), 1500s–1600s crike; β. Middle English–1500s creke, (1500s creake, crieque), 1500s–1600s creeke, 1600s creak, creick, 1500s– creek; γ. 1500s– crick.

Etymology: Three types of this are found: (1) crike , cryke (ī ), usual in Middle English, (2) creke , rare in Middle English (see sense 7), but common in the 16th cent. (whence the current creek ), and (3) crick , only since 16th cent. The first corresponds to French crique (14th cent. in Littré); the second to earlier Dutch krēke (Kilian), modern Dutch kreek creek, bay, and to medieval (Anglo) Latin creca (sometimes crecca ) creek. The form crick resembles Swedish dialect krik bend, nook, corner, creek, cove (Rietz), and Icelandic kriki crack, nook (handarkriki armpit), but is probably an English shortening of crique , crike . In many parts of U.S. crick is the common pronunciation of creek in the sense ‘stream’. The earlier history is not known, but the word (in French also) is generally supposed to be Germanic. In sense 4 the word appears to be related to crack ; in senses 6, 7 there appears to be association with crook n. and adj.A corresponding double form is seen in pike , peak , French pic . It has been conjectured that the word is preserved in the Old English proper names Creacanford , Crecganford , Creganford , Crayford (in Kent), and Crecca-gelád , Cricgelad , Flor. Criccelade , Cricklade (in Wiltshire); the former is impossible; in the latter crecca could not be the origin of either crike or creke , though some connection is possible, if there were any reason to suppose that the meaning suits. With sense 4 compare Old Norse kriki ‘crack, corner, recess’, used also of parts of the body, as in handarkriki arm-pit, lærkriki, Dutch laarkrig the groin.

I. An inlet or branch of a river, and related uses.

a. A narrow recess or inlet in the coastline of the sea, or the tidal estuary of a river; an armlet of the sea which runs inland in a comparatively narrow channel and offers facilities for harbouring and unloading smaller ships.The first quot. may be of more general meaning.

ΘΠ

the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > inlet in river or sea

fleetc893

creekc1300

graina1400

updraught14..

armleta1552

land-featherc1582

indraught1596

inlet1596

vent1604

cut1630

re-entrant1893

α.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 708 Hise ship..He dede it tere, an ful wel pike, Þat it ne doutede sond ne krike.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2947 In euerilc welle, in euerilc crike [MS trike] Men funden blod al witterlike.

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 411 He knew..euery cryke in Britaigne and in Spaigne.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 103 Cryke of watyr, scatera.

1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII c. 9 §1 Dwellers next vnto the streme of Seuerne, and vnto the crikes and pilles of y^e same from Kingrod vpward toward the City and Towne of Gloucester.

1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 17 A channell, a bay, a rode..a crike, a riuer.

β. 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 1 §1 The Frenchemen..knowe..every haven and Creke within the sayde Countie.a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 155 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The ship was by foule weather driven into a creick.a1642 R. Callis Reading of Statute of Sewers (1647) i. 33 Creeks of the sea is an Inlet of sea cornered into the main Land, shooting with a narrow passage into some Angle of the Land, and therein stretching it self more then ordinary into the Land.1694 J. Narborough et al. Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) i. 39 A Creek two miles long, which is dry at Low Water, and not more than thirty foot broad.1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire I. i. i. 64 A long, narrow saltwater creek, communicating with the sea at Portland Road.1839 Penny Cycl. XIII. 187/2 [article Faversham] The creek or arm of the Swale on which the town stands is navigable for vessels of 150 tons.γ. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias 64 a Foysts placed in euery Baye or Kricke to set upon him.

b. A small port or harbour; an inlet within the limits of a haven or port.

c. In the Customs administration of Great Britain, an inlet, etc., not of sufficient importance to be a separate Customs station, but included within the jurisdiction of another port station.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > harbour or port > [noun] > types of

creek1478

mole1545

haveneta1552

havenleta1552

portlet1577

seaport1596

close-harbour1615

basin1725

close port1728

entry port1838

port of call1838

way port1846

tidal basin1858

tidal harbour1859

port of register1860

α.

1478 W. Worcester Itineraries 32 Pertinentes ad havyn de Falmouth sunt 147 portus et crykes.

β. 1486 C'tess of Oxford in Four C. Eng. Lett. 7 That such wetche..be used and hadde in the poorts, and creks.1588 Act 1 Eliz. c. 11 §1 Conveying..their Wares..out of Creekes and Places where no Customer ys resident.1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 36 He must cut out large docks and creeks into his text to unlade the foolish frigate of his unseasonable autorities.1790 New Ann. Reg. 1789 Public Papers 133/2 A creek, in the language of the customs, is a place included within the limits either of a head or member-port, as set out by the commissions of the court of exchequer, and at which officers competent to transact the coast business are stationed by order of the board of customs.1863 P. Barry Dockyard Econ. 211 Between the fourth and fifth slip there is a dock inlet or creek, which might at any time be enlarged into a dry dock or basin for ships of the largest class.1876 Act 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36 §11 Customs Laws Consolidation. The pre-existing limits of any port, sub-port, haven, creek, or legal quay.γ. a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 47 Besides the port is but a little cricke.

d. Applied to any similar opening on the shore of a lake.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 18 Loch-Katrine..In all her length far winding lay, With promontory, creek, and bay.

2. As part of a river or river-system.

a. An inlet or short arm of a river, such as runs up into the widened mouth of a ditch or small stream, or fills any short ravine or cutting that joins the river. (This is merely an occasional extension of sense 1.)

ΘΠ

the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > inlet in river or sea > in river

fleetc893

pillOE

pow1481

creek1577

crick1608

pokelogan1848

1577 [see creek-hole n. at Compounds 1].

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 147 A He and a She Pike will usually go together out of a River into some ditch or creek .

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 25 On the bank of Jordan, by a Creek: Where winds with Reeds, and Osiers whisp'ring play.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. vi. 151 The otter has two different methods of fishing; the one..by pursuing..[its prey] into some little creek and seizing it there.

1814 D. H. O'Brien Narr. Captiv. & Escape 109 On the banks of the Rhine..I..perceived a small Punt hauled into a creek.

1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal I. vi. 151 He knew every tributary, creek, and eyot.

b. In U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.: A branch of a main river, a tributary river; a rivulet, brook, small stream, or run. Probably the name was originally given by the explorers of a river to the various inlets or arms observed to run out of it, and of which only the mouths were seen in passing; when at a later period these ‘creeks’ were explored, they were often found to be tributaries of great length; but they retained the designation originally given, and ‘creek’ thus received an application entirely unknown in Great Britain.

ΘΠ

the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > tributary > [noun]

succour1596

creek1622

kill1669

sidestream1715

feeder1795

tribute-river1820

tributary1822

affluent1829

confluent1849

sub-river1849

influent1859

the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > tributary > [noun] > fork

graina1400

creek1622

fork1692

tine1875

the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > stream > [noun] > rivulet or runnel

rindleeOE

runningc1350

stripec1440

ruissel1477

channel1478

veina1500

rivel1542

rivereta1552

rivulet1577

rundle1577

runnel1577

runner1578

runnet1601

rival1602

riverling1605

run1605

riveling1615

creek1622

drill1641

vein riveret1652

riverlet1654

rigolet1771

runlet1801

1622 in H. R. Shurtleff Log Cabin Myth (1939) 155 Creeks and Swamps as they call them..offer all aduantages to their..enimys.

1638 P. Vincent Hist. Pequot War in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1838) 3rd Ser. VII. 42 They..are dispersed securely in their plantations sixty miles along the coast, and within the land also, along some small creeks and rivers.

1674 Pennsylvania Arch. I. 34 On the East-side of a Small Creeke or gutt on this side the Single-tree.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 132 Called Ten Shilling Creek, but not properly, it being a Branch of the great River.

1748 G. Washington Jrnl. 25 Mar. Left Cresaps and went up to y^e mouth of Patersons Creek [a tributary of the Potomac].

1793 J. Hunter Hist. Jrnl. xxi. 516 In the afternoon a creek obliged them to leave the banks of the river, and go round its head, as it was too deep to cross.

1820 S. Marsden Let. 8 May (1932) iv. 249 There are two warm springs opposite each other, one on each bank of the creek, about ten feet above the level of the fresh water which runs between them.

1836 C. P. Traill Backwoods of Canada 64 Besides numerous small streams, here called creeks, two considerable rivers..find an outlet.

1840 N.Z. Jrnl. 1 292/1 A fine creek of water..runs down from the mountains..and wastes itself in the salt water.

c1848 in H. Watterson Oddities S. Life & Char. (1883) 69 ‘You see that krick swamp?’ asked Suggs.

1852 G. B. Earp Gold Colonies Austral. viii. 131 A ‘creek’, in New South Wales jargon, means a water-hole in the interior, and not an arm of the sea, as we understand it.

1857 R. B. Paul Lett. from Canterbury iv. 65 In the Australian Colonies, as in America, brooks are called creeks.

1879 A. R. Wallace Australasia ii. 25 The drainage of the interior is effected by numerous creeks and watercourses which only run after periods of rain.

1963 B. Pearson Coal Flat iv. 59 In a little clearing in the..young bush by the bank of the creek was Mrs Seldom's little house.

c. up the creek: (a) in a tight corner, in trouble; spec. pregnant; (b) crazy, eccentric. slang.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > [phrase] > in a difficult position > in straits

waterOE

straitly steadc1400

need-stead?c1450

at the worst hand1490

in suds1575

lock1598

at a bad hand1640

in a wood1659

in bad bread1743

up a stump1829

in a tight (also awkward, bad, etc.) spot1851

up shit creek1868

in the cart1889

in the soup1889

out on a limb1897

in a spot1929

up the creek1941

consommé1957

the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > [adjective] > insanity or madness > affected with

woodc725

woodsekc890

giddyc1000

out of (by, from, of) wit or one's witc1000

witlessc1000

brainsickOE

amadc1225

lunaticc1290

madc1330

sickc1340

brain-wooda1375

out of one's minda1387

frenetica1398

fonda1400

formada1400

unwisea1400

brainc1400

unwholec1400

alienate?a1425

brainless1434

distract of one's wits1470

madfula1475

furious1475

distract1481

fro oneself1483

beside oneself1490

beside one's patience1490

dementa1500

red-wood?1507

extraught1509

misminded1509

peevish1523

bedlam-ripe1525

straughta1529

fanatic1533

bedlama1535

daft1540

unsounda1547

stark raving (also staring) mad1548

distraughted1572

insane1575

acrazeda1577

past oneself1576

frenzy1577

poll-mad1577

out of one's senses1580

maddeda1586

frenetical1588

distempered1593

distraught1597

crazed1599

diswitted1599

idle-headed1599

lymphatical1603

extract1608

madling1608

distracteda1616

informala1616

far gone1616

crazy1617

March mada1625

non compos mentis1628

brain-crazed1632

demented1632

crack-brained1634

arreptitiousa1641

dementate1640

dementated1650

brain-crackeda1652

insaniated1652

exsensed1654

bedlam-witteda1657

lymphatic1656

mad-like1679

dementative1685

non compos1699

beside one's gravity1716

hyte1720

lymphated1727

out of one's head1733

maddened1735

swivel-eyed1758

wrong1765

brainsickly1770

fatuous1773

derangedc1790

alienated1793

shake-brained1793

crack-headed1796

flighty1802

wowf1802

doitrified1808

phrenesiac1814

bedlamite1815

mad-braineda1822

fey1823

bedlamitish1824

skire1825

beside one's wits1827

as mad as a hatter1829

crazied1842

off one's head1842

bemadded1850

loco1852

off one's nut1858

off his chump1864

unsane1867

meshuga1868

non-sane1868

loony1872

bee-headed1879

off one's onion1881

off one's base1882

(to go) off one's dot1883

locoed1885

screwy1887

off one's rocker1890

balmy or barmy on (or in) the crumpet1891

meshuggener1892

nutty1892

buggy1893

bughouse1894

off one's pannikin1894

ratty1895

off one's trolley1896

batchy1898

twisted1900

batsc1901

batty1903

dippy1903

bugs1904

dingy1904

up the (also a) pole1904

nut1906

nuts1908

nutty as a fruitcake1911

bugged1920

potty1920

cuckoo1923

nutsy1923

puggled1923

blah1924

détraqué1925

doolally1925

off one's rocket1925

puggle1925

mental1927

phooey1927

crackers1928

squirrelly1928

over the edge1929

round the bend1929

lakes1934

ding-a-ling1935

wacky1935

screwball1936

dingbats1937

Asiatic1938

parlatic1941

troppo1941

up the creek1941

screwed-up1943

bonkers1945

psychological1952

out to lunch1955

starkers1956

off (one's) squiff1960

round the twist1960

yampy1963

out of (also off) one's bird1966

out of one's skull1967

whacked out1969

batshit1971

woo-woo1971

nutso1973

out of (one's) gourd1977

wacko1977

off one's meds1986

the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [adjective] > slightly mad > eccentric or cranky

fantastical1531

odd1577

eccentric1685

fanaticized1827

cranky1850

bee-bonneted1856

cornery1887

screwy1887

kinky1889

crankish1892

ratty1895

batchy1898

batsc1901

batty1903

potty1920

offbeat1922

off-centre1930

wacky1935

screwball1936

up the creek1941

oddball1945

wackadoo1958

kooky1959

wiggy1963

flaky1964

nutball1968

woo-woo1971

wacko1977

off-kilter1985

wackadoodle1993

fantastic-

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > [adjective]

greatc1175

with childc1175

with childc1300

baggeda1400

bounda1400

pregnant?a1425

quicka1450

greaterc1480

heavyc1480

teeming1530

great-bellied1533

big1535

boundenc1540

impregnate1540

great-wombeda1550

young with child1566

gravid1598

pregnate1598

pagled1599

enceinte1602

child-great1605

conceived1637

big-bellieda1646

brooding1667

in the (also a) family way1688

in the (also that) way1741

undelivered1799

ensient1818

enwombeda1822

in a delicate condition1827

gestant1851

in pod1890

up the (also a) pole1918

in a particular condition1922

preg?1927

in the spud line1937

up the spout1937

preggy1938

up the stick1941

preggers1942

in pig1945

primigravid1949

preggo1951

in a certain condition1958

gestating1961

up the creek1961

in the (pudding) cluba1966

gravidated-

1941 A. Miller in Kozlenko 100 Radio Plays 22/2 I mean that if I'm killed you're up the creek.

1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 68 Up the creek, lost, either on patrol or during a night out; off one's course.

1945 Penguin New Writing 24 32 Lord, it's my mortar lance corporal. If he breaks we'll be right up the creek.

1960 H. Pinter Caretaker iii. 71 You don't know what you're doing... You're up the creek! You're half off!

1961 H. E. Bates Day of Tortoise 52 I'm in trouble. I'm going to have a baby... I've had it. Good and proper. I'm up the creek.

1961 J. Heller Catch-22 (1962) viii. 78 You really are up the creek, Popinjay.

1963 E. Lambert Drip Dry Man x. 51 I know a girl who thinks her bloke may have put her up the creek.

1969 I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam vi. 134 ‘You okay?’ asked Donovan... ‘I thought you were properly up the creek.’

3. transferred senses akin to 1.

†a. Applied more widely and loosely to any narrow arm or corner of the sea. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > inlet in river or sea > in sea

fleetc893

pillOE

arm of the seaOE

sounda1300

lougha1387

bracec1400

lough1423

firthc1425

loch1427

resort1477

estuarya1552

inshot1555

mere1574

portlet1577

fret1587

frith1600

sea-gate1605

creek1625

sea-lochc1645

wick1664

fjord1674

voea1688

backwater1867

strait gulf1867

ocean-arm1871

ria1887

fjard1904

geo1934

1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated ii. vi. 87 The Adriatick sea in the inmost creeke neere Venice swels neere foure foote in hight.

1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 333 Jersey, and Garnesey..situated within that Creek of Sea which is made by the shore of Bretaign on the one side, and that of Normandie on the other.

b. A narrow corner of land running out from the main area; a narrow plain or recess running in between mountains. Cf. cove n.¹

ΘΠ

the world > the earth > land > landscape > [noun] > landform > indented

recess1651

creek1652

the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hollow or depression > [noun] > hemmed in by hills

creek1652

pocket1897

1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved ix. 56 Certain Creeks or corners of Land running into the up-lands.

1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (1681) xi. §3. 233 To How the several Creeks, Corners, and Patches of your Land.

1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine (1858) ii. 136 The plains which run into the mountains are the creeks into which they [the Bedouins] naturally penetrate.

II. Senses relating to a cleft or to something crooked.

†4. A cleft in the face of a rock, etc.; a crack, fissure, chink, crevice, cranny. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > [noun] > a crack or breach

chinec888

bruche?a1300

crevice1382

scar1390

scorec1400

rimea1425

riftc1425

riving1440

creekc1480

brack1524

rive1527

bruise1530

crack1530

chink1545

chap1553

riff1577

chop1578

chinker1581

coane1584

fraction1587

cranice1603

slifter1607

fracture1641

shake1651

snap1891

α.

c1480 (a1400) St. Blaise 43 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 362 A kryk in-[to] a crage he hade, & þare his dwelling has he mad.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 602 Thai clam in-to the crykis [1489 Adv. crykys] swa, Quhill half the craggis thai clummyn had.

γ. 1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ei^v/1 A Creke, crick, fissura.1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Kii^v/1 A Crick, rima.1635 R. Brathwait tr. M. Silesio Arcadian Princesse 179 To wals and portels would he lay his eare, Through creeks and crannies too, that he might hear..desir'd applause.

a. A narrow or winding passage penetrating the interior of any place and passing out of sight; an out-of-the-way corner. to seek creeks: to seek a hiding place. Obsolete or dialect.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > a secret place, hiding place > [noun] > a nook, corner

haleeOE

hirnec897

halkea1300

cornerc1384

nookc1450

hele?1527

creek1573

society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, passage, or means of access to a place > [noun] > narrow passage or narrow part of passage

chare12..

danger1393

throata1522

creek1573

pass1712

push-through1888

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 45^v Tom Pyeper, hath houen and puffed vp cheekes, if cheese be so houen, make Cis to seeke creekes.

1582 T. Watson Passionate Cent. of Loue xcv, in Poems (1870) 131 A Labyrinth is a place made full of turnings and creekes.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. ii. 38 One that countermands The passages of allies, creekes, and narrow lands.

1629 G. Chapman tr. Juvenal Fifth Satyre in Iustification Nero 12 Is no Creeke void?

1681 C. Cotton Wonders of Peake 52 The Cave..stretching itself..As if (past these blind Creeks) we now were come into the..Mountains Womb.

1753 T. Gray Long Story in Six Poems 18 Each hole and cupboard they explore, Each creek and cranny of his chamber.

1808–25 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Crykes ‘Creeks and corners’ is still a common phrase.

1878 Mrs. H. Wood Pomeroy Abbey (ed. 3) 112 We..looked in every crick and corner for it.

1883 G. Allen Colin Clout's Cal. 65 To fill up all the cricks and corners between other plants.

b. figurative. A nook, a hidden or secret corner.

1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. v. sig. Ff.vi/2 And so must sounde doctrine keepe all the faithfull..in their duetie and quiet concord without cracke [1587 creacke] or creauise.

1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1296/1 Throughlie view the hidden and couered creeks of our minds!

1615 J. Day Festivals 261 There is not a creeke or crany in the World, but seemes to bee fraught with it.

a1653 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 91 The crooked creekes, Within my heart.

1715 M. Davies Εἰκων Μικρο-βιβλικὴ 249 Jesuitical Creeks and Corners of Superstitious Romanism.

†c. Applied to the two cavities of the heart.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > vascular system > heart > [noun] > ventricle or chamber

chambera1398

womba1398

ventriclec1400

bosom1578

creek1621

ventricule1742

ventriculus?1768

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. i. iii. 10 The Ventricles, Caules, Kells, Tunicles, Creekes, and parts of it.

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. ii. iv. 27 This Heart though it bee one sole member, yet it may bee divided into two creekes, Right and Left.

d. The cleft between the buttocks, rima podicis.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > back > buttock(s) > [noun] > cleft in

creekc1300

nocka1516

nick1562

nockandro1611

bum crack1980

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2450 He..keste him on a scabbed mere, Hise nese went un-to þe crice [rhyme swike].

†6. A turn, a winding, as of a river or crooked way. Also figurative. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

the world > space > direction > [noun] > straight or constant direction > deviation from > a turn

crookingc1380

turnc1390

bightc1400

crook1486

turnagain1545

creek1596

creeking1610

return1610

sinuositya1774

bend1879

1596 J. Davies Orchestra liii. sig. B3^v I loue Mæanders path..Such winding sleights, such turnes and tricks he hath, Such Creekes, such wrenches, and such daliaunce.

1599 J. Davies Nosce Teipsum 43 As Streames, which with their winding banks do play, Stopt by their Creeks, run softly through the plaine.

c1653 England's Alarm in R. Bell Anc. Poems, Ballads & Songs Peasantry Eng. (1857) 1857 Painted harlots which they often meet At every creek and corner of the street.

1673 J. Flavell Fountain of Life vii. 80 In every creek, and turning of your lives.

a1680 S. Charnock Several Disc. Existence of God (1682) 338 He hath a prospect of every little Creek in any design.

†7. figurative. A crooked device; a trick, artifice, contrivance. Obsolete.The early date of this sense makes its history and position doubtful.

ΘΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception

wrenchc888

swikec893

braida1000

craftOE

wile1154

crookc1175

trokingc1175

guile?c1225

hocket1276

blink1303

errorc1320

guileryc1330

sleightc1340

knackc1369

deceitc1380

japec1380

gaudc1386

syllogism1387

mazec1390

mowa1393

train?a1400

trantc1400

abusionc1405

creekc1405

trickc1412

trayc1430

lirtc1440

quaint?a1450

touch1481

pawka1522

false point?1528

practice1533

crink1534

flim-flamc1538

bobc1540

fetcha1547

abuse1551

block1553

wrinklec1555

far-fetch?a1562

blirre1570

slampant1577

ruse1581

forgery1582

crank1588

plait1589

crossbite1591

cozenage1592

lock1598

quiblin1605

foist1607

junt1608

firk1611

overreach?1615

fob1622

ludification1623

knick-knacka1625

flam1632

dodge1638

gimcrack1639

fourbe1654

juggle1664

strategy1672

jilt1683

disingenuity1691

fun1699

jugglementa1708

spring1753

shavie1767

rig?1775

deception1794

Yorkshire bite1795

fakement1811

fake1829

practical1833

deceptivity1843

tread-behind1844

fly1861

schlenter1864

Sinonism1864

racket1869

have1885

ficelle1890

wheeze1903

fast one1912

roughie1914

spun-yarn trick1916

fastie1931

phoney baloney1933

fake-out1955

okey-doke1964

mind-fuck1971

c1405 G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale 131 (Ellesmere MS.) They wene þat no man may hem bigile..The moore queynte crekes [so 4 MSS.; Harl. knakkes] that they make The moore wol I stele.

a1627 W. Sclater in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1878) V. Ps. cxvi. 6 Without those slights, or creeks of carnal policy, for which men are in the world esteemed wise.

Compounds

C1. General attributive.

creek-bed n.

1852 Southern Literary Messenger 18 314/1 Ahead of us..is a creek-bed, fringed far back into the hills with tree and shrub.

1859 K. Cornwallis Panorama New World I. 111 A creek-bed ran parallel with the road.

1903 S. E. White Forest xiv. 196 If we..followed a creek-bed..we should have made our discovery.

1936 I. L. Idriess Cattle King iv. 30 Often you can dig in a dry creek-bed and obtain soakage water.

1965 M. Shadbolt Among Cinders xx. 194 We walked..following a creek-bed.

creek head n.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 145 The Pieces of Swamp between this Channel and the Creek-head.

creek-hole n.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 173 In the bankes and sides of these Ponds, you must haue Busshes and Creeke holes, for the Fishe to hide them in from the heate of the Sunne.

creek-side n.

1649 Maryland Hist. Mag. 8 59 We..went along the said creeke side to the Head thereof.

1751 C. Gist Jrnls. 63 Set out down the said Creek Side N 3 M.

1864 B. Taylor Hannah Thurston ii. 30 The great elms by the creek-side had not yet shed all of their tawny leaves.

1879 J. G. Whittier St. John xvii From island and creek-side Her fishers shall throng.

creek-timber n. (U.S.)

1790 J. Backus Diary in W. W. Backus Mem. Backus Fam. (1889) 93 Explored the bottom to the Creek timber land.

1836 D. B. Edward Hist. Texas 36 We find..[the] prairie..relieved by creek timbers and solitary groves.

C2.

creek-bottom n. U.S. level ground beside a stream or brook.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > land near river > [noun]

haleOE

haugh1487

strath1549

wartha1641

freshes1652

intervale1653

interval1684

riverfront1751

river bottom1752

creek-bottom1822

flat1852

1822 J. Woods Two Years' Resid. Eng. Prairie 224 On the creek bottoms, coffee-berry, poplar, pecon, white walnut.

1831 J. M. Peck Guide for Emigrants ii. 91 (heading) River and Creek Bottoms.

1857 F. L. Olmsted Journey through Texas 81 The soil of the creek-bottoms bears good cotton.

1858 Texas Almanac 78 The timber..is chiefly confined to the river and creek bottoms.

1874 E. Eggleston Circuit Rider iv. 45 I will open that crick bottom, and then I shall make some money.

creek-gum n. the Australian river red gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > Australasian trees > [noun] > eucalyptus trees

yellow box1662

gum tree1676

white gum tree1733

whip-stick1782

peppermint1790

red gum tree1790

red mahogany1798

white gum1798

box1801

blue gum1802

eucalyptus1809

box tree1819

black-butted gum1820

bloodwood1827

white ash1830

blackbutt1833

morrel1837

mountain ash1837

mallee scrub1845

apple gum1846

flooded gum1847

Moreton Bay ash1847

mallee1848

swamp gum1852

box-gum1855

manna gum1855

white top1856

river gum1860

grey box1861

woolly butt1862

marlock1863

fever tree1867

red ironbark1867

river white gum1867

karri1870

yellow jacket1876

eucalypt1877

yapunyah1878

coolibah1879

scribbly gum1883

forest mahogany1884

yellow jack1884

rose gum1885

Jimmy Low1887

nankeen gum1889

slaty gum1889

sugar-gum1889

apple box1890

Murray red gum1895

creek-gum1898

eucalyptian1901

forest red gum1904

river red gum1920

napunyah1921

whitewash gum1923

ghost gum1928

snow gum1928

Sydney blue gum1932

salmon gum1934

lapunyah1940

1898 E. E. Morris Austral Eng. 178 Creek Gum.

1930 V. Palmer Men are Human x. 89 The sun, visible through a gap in the creek-gums, hung fixed in the sky.

Derivatives

ˈcreekward adj. towards a creek.

ΘΠ

the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [adjective] > having inlets > towards inlet

creekward1887

1887 C. C. Abbott Waste-land Wanderings iii. 85 Kept a creekward course until out of sight.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	creek
释义	creekn.¹ Brit. /kriːk/, U.S. /krik/, /krɪk/ Forms: α. Middle English krike, Middle English cryke, ( kryk), 1500s–1600s crike; β. Middle English–1500s creke, (1500s creake, crieque), 1500s–1600s creeke, 1600s creak, creick, 1500s– creek; γ. 1500s– crick. Etymology: Three types of this are found: (1) crike , cryke (ī ), usual in Middle English, (2) creke , rare in Middle English (see sense 7), but common in the 16th cent. (whence the current creek ), and (3) crick , only since 16th cent. The first corresponds to French crique (14th cent. in Littré); the second to earlier Dutch krēke (Kilian), modern Dutch kreek creek, bay, and to medieval (Anglo) Latin creca (sometimes crecca ) creek. The form crick resembles Swedish dialect krik bend, nook, corner, creek, cove (Rietz), and Icelandic kriki crack, nook (handarkriki armpit), but is probably an English shortening of crique , crike . In many parts of U.S. crick is the common pronunciation of creek in the sense ‘stream’. The earlier history is not known, but the word (in French also) is generally supposed to be Germanic. In sense 4 the word appears to be related to crack ; in senses 6, 7 there appears to be association with crook n. and adj.A corresponding double form is seen in pike , peak , French pic . It has been conjectured that the word is preserved in the Old English proper names Creacanford , Crecganford , Creganford , Crayford (in Kent), and Crecca-gelád , Cricgelad , Flor. Criccelade , Cricklade (in Wiltshire); the former is impossible; in the latter crecca could not be the origin of either crike or creke , though some connection is possible, if there were any reason to suppose that the meaning suits. With sense 4 compare Old Norse kriki ‘crack, corner, recess’, used also of parts of the body, as in handarkriki arm-pit, lærkriki, Dutch laarkrig the groin. I. An inlet or branch of a river, and related uses. 1. a. A narrow recess or inlet in the coastline of the sea, or the tidal estuary of a river; an armlet of the sea which runs inland in a comparatively narrow channel and offers facilities for harbouring and unloading smaller ships.The first quot. may be of more general meaning. ΘΠ the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > inlet in river or sea fleetc893 creekc1300 graina1400 updraught14.. armleta1552 land-featherc1582 indraught1596 inlet1596 vent1604 cut1630 re-entrant1893 α. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 708 Hise ship..He dede it tere, an ful wel pike, Þat it ne doutede sond ne krike. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2947 In euerilc welle, in euerilc crike [MS trike] Men funden blod al witterlike. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 411 He knew..euery cryke in Britaigne and in Spaigne. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 103 Cryke of watyr, scatera. 1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII c. 9 §1 Dwellers next vnto the streme of Seuerne, and vnto the crikes and pilles of y^e same from Kingrod vpward toward the City and Towne of Gloucester. 1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 17 A channell, a bay, a rode..a crike, a riuer. β. 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 1 §1 The Frenchemen..knowe..every haven and Creke within the sayde Countie.a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 155 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The ship was by foule weather driven into a creick.a1642 R. Callis Reading of Statute of Sewers (1647) i. 33 Creeks of the sea is an Inlet of sea cornered into the main Land, shooting with a narrow passage into some Angle of the Land, and therein stretching it self more then ordinary into the Land.1694 J. Narborough et al. Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) i. 39 A Creek two miles long, which is dry at Low Water, and not more than thirty foot broad.1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire I. i. i. 64 A long, narrow saltwater creek, communicating with the sea at Portland Road.1839 Penny Cycl. XIII. 187/2 [article Faversham] The creek or arm of the Swale on which the town stands is navigable for vessels of 150 tons.γ. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias 64 a Foysts placed in euery Baye or Kricke to set upon him. b. A small port or harbour; an inlet within the limits of a haven or port. c. In the Customs administration of Great Britain, an inlet, etc., not of sufficient importance to be a separate Customs station, but included within the jurisdiction of another port station. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > harbour or port > [noun] > types of creek1478 mole1545 haveneta1552 havenleta1552 portlet1577 seaport1596 close-harbour1615 basin1725 close port1728 entry port1838 port of call1838 way port1846 tidal basin1858 tidal harbour1859 port of register1860 α. 1478 W. Worcester Itineraries 32 Pertinentes ad havyn de Falmouth sunt 147 portus et crykes. β. 1486 C'tess of Oxford in Four C. Eng. Lett. 7 That such wetche..be used and hadde in the poorts, and creks.1588 Act 1 Eliz. c. 11 §1 Conveying..their Wares..out of Creekes and Places where no Customer ys resident.1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 36 He must cut out large docks and creeks into his text to unlade the foolish frigate of his unseasonable autorities.1790 New Ann. Reg. 1789 Public Papers 133/2 A creek, in the language of the customs, is a place included within the limits either of a head or member-port, as set out by the commissions of the court of exchequer, and at which officers competent to transact the coast business are stationed by order of the board of customs.1863 P. Barry Dockyard Econ. 211 Between the fourth and fifth slip there is a dock inlet or creek, which might at any time be enlarged into a dry dock or basin for ships of the largest class.1876 Act 39 & 40 Vict. c. 36 §11 Customs Laws Consolidation. The pre-existing limits of any port, sub-port, haven, creek, or legal quay.γ. a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 47 Besides the port is but a little cricke. d. Applied to any similar opening on the shore of a lake. Π 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 18 Loch-Katrine..In all her length far winding lay, With promontory, creek, and bay. 2. As part of a river or river-system. a. An inlet or short arm of a river, such as runs up into the widened mouth of a ditch or small stream, or fills any short ravine or cutting that joins the river. (This is merely an occasional extension of sense 1.) ΘΠ the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > inlet in river or sea > in river fleetc893 pillOE pow1481 creek1577 crick1608 pokelogan1848 1577 [see creek-hole n. at Compounds 1]. 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 147 A He and a She Pike will usually go together out of a River into some ditch or creek . View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 25 On the bank of Jordan, by a Creek: Where winds with Reeds, and Osiers whisp'ring play. View more context for this quotation 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. vi. 151 The otter has two different methods of fishing; the one..by pursuing..[its prey] into some little creek and seizing it there. 1814 D. H. O'Brien Narr. Captiv. & Escape 109 On the banks of the Rhine..I..perceived a small Punt hauled into a creek. 1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal I. vi. 151 He knew every tributary, creek, and eyot. b. In U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.: A branch of a main river, a tributary river; a rivulet, brook, small stream, or run. Probably the name was originally given by the explorers of a river to the various inlets or arms observed to run out of it, and of which only the mouths were seen in passing; when at a later period these ‘creeks’ were explored, they were often found to be tributaries of great length; but they retained the designation originally given, and ‘creek’ thus received an application entirely unknown in Great Britain. ΘΠ the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > tributary > [noun] succour1596 creek1622 kill1669 sidestream1715 feeder1795 tribute-river1820 tributary1822 affluent1829 confluent1849 sub-river1849 influent1859 the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > tributary > [noun] > fork graina1400 creek1622 fork1692 tine1875 the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > stream > [noun] > rivulet or runnel rindleeOE runningc1350 stripec1440 ruissel1477 channel1478 veina1500 rivel1542 rivereta1552 rivulet1577 rundle1577 runnel1577 runner1578 runnet1601 rival1602 riverling1605 run1605 riveling1615 creek1622 drill1641 vein riveret1652 riverlet1654 rigolet1771 runlet1801 1622 in H. R. Shurtleff Log Cabin Myth (1939) 155 Creeks and Swamps as they call them..offer all aduantages to their..enimys. 1638 P. Vincent Hist. Pequot War in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1838) 3rd Ser. VII. 42 They..are dispersed securely in their plantations sixty miles along the coast, and within the land also, along some small creeks and rivers. 1674 Pennsylvania Arch. I. 34 On the East-side of a Small Creeke or gutt on this side the Single-tree. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 132 Called Ten Shilling Creek, but not properly, it being a Branch of the great River. 1748 G. Washington Jrnl. 25 Mar. Left Cresaps and went up to y^e mouth of Patersons Creek [a tributary of the Potomac]. 1793 J. Hunter Hist. Jrnl. xxi. 516 In the afternoon a creek obliged them to leave the banks of the river, and go round its head, as it was too deep to cross. 1820 S. Marsden Let. 8 May (1932) iv. 249 There are two warm springs opposite each other, one on each bank of the creek, about ten feet above the level of the fresh water which runs between them. 1836 C. P. Traill Backwoods of Canada 64 Besides numerous small streams, here called creeks, two considerable rivers..find an outlet. 1840 N.Z. Jrnl. 1 292/1 A fine creek of water..runs down from the mountains..and wastes itself in the salt water. c1848 in H. Watterson Oddities S. Life & Char. (1883) 69 ‘You see that krick swamp?’ asked Suggs. 1852 G. B. Earp Gold Colonies Austral. viii. 131 A ‘creek’, in New South Wales jargon, means a water-hole in the interior, and not an arm of the sea, as we understand it. 1857 R. B. Paul Lett. from Canterbury iv. 65 In the Australian Colonies, as in America, brooks are called creeks. 1879 A. R. Wallace Australasia ii. 25 The drainage of the interior is effected by numerous creeks and watercourses which only run after periods of rain. 1963 B. Pearson Coal Flat iv. 59 In a little clearing in the..young bush by the bank of the creek was Mrs Seldom's little house. c. up the creek: (a) in a tight corner, in trouble; spec. pregnant; (b) crazy, eccentric. slang. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > [phrase] > in a difficult position > in straits waterOE straitly steadc1400 need-stead?c1450 at the worst hand1490 in suds1575 lock1598 at a bad hand1640 in a wood1659 in bad bread1743 up a stump1829 in a tight (also awkward, bad, etc.) spot1851 up shit creek1868 in the cart1889 in the soup1889 out on a limb1897 in a spot1929 up the creek1941 consommé1957 the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > [adjective] > insanity or madness > affected with woodc725 woodsekc890 giddyc1000 out of (by, from, of) wit or one's witc1000 witlessc1000 brainsickOE amadc1225 lunaticc1290 madc1330 sickc1340 brain-wooda1375 out of one's minda1387 frenetica1398 fonda1400 formada1400 unwisea1400 brainc1400 unwholec1400 alienate?a1425 brainless1434 distract of one's wits1470 madfula1475 furious1475 distract1481 fro oneself1483 beside oneself1490 beside one's patience1490 dementa1500 red-wood?1507 extraught1509 misminded1509 peevish1523 bedlam-ripe1525 straughta1529 fanatic1533 bedlama1535 daft1540 unsounda1547 stark raving (also staring) mad1548 distraughted1572 insane1575 acrazeda1577 past oneself1576 frenzy1577 poll-mad1577 out of one's senses1580 maddeda1586 frenetical1588 distempered1593 distraught1597 crazed1599 diswitted1599 idle-headed1599 lymphatical1603 extract1608 madling1608 distracteda1616 informala1616 far gone1616 crazy1617 March mada1625 non compos mentis1628 brain-crazed1632 demented1632 crack-brained1634 arreptitiousa1641 dementate1640 dementated1650 brain-crackeda1652 insaniated1652 exsensed1654 bedlam-witteda1657 lymphatic1656 mad-like1679 dementative1685 non compos1699 beside one's gravity1716 hyte1720 lymphated1727 out of one's head1733 maddened1735 swivel-eyed1758 wrong1765 brainsickly1770 fatuous1773 derangedc1790 alienated1793 shake-brained1793 crack-headed1796 flighty1802 wowf1802 doitrified1808 phrenesiac1814 bedlamite1815 mad-braineda1822 fey1823 bedlamitish1824 skire1825 beside one's wits1827 as mad as a hatter1829 crazied1842 off one's head1842 bemadded1850 loco1852 off one's nut1858 off his chump1864 unsane1867 meshuga1868 non-sane1868 loony1872 bee-headed1879 off one's onion1881 off one's base1882 (to go) off one's dot1883 locoed1885 screwy1887 off one's rocker1890 balmy or barmy on (or in) the crumpet1891 meshuggener1892 nutty1892 buggy1893 bughouse1894 off one's pannikin1894 ratty1895 off one's trolley1896 batchy1898 twisted1900 batsc1901 batty1903 dippy1903 bugs1904 dingy1904 up the (also a) pole1904 nut1906 nuts1908 nutty as a fruitcake1911 bugged1920 potty1920 cuckoo1923 nutsy1923 puggled1923 blah1924 détraqué1925 doolally1925 off one's rocket1925 puggle1925 mental1927 phooey1927 crackers1928 squirrelly1928 over the edge1929 round the bend1929 lakes1934 ding-a-ling1935 wacky1935 screwball1936 dingbats1937 Asiatic1938 parlatic1941 troppo1941 up the creek1941 screwed-up1943 bonkers1945 psychological1952 out to lunch1955 starkers1956 off (one's) squiff1960 round the twist1960 yampy1963 out of (also off) one's bird1966 out of one's skull1967 whacked out1969 batshit1971 woo-woo1971 nutso1973 out of (one's) gourd1977 wacko1977 off one's meds1986 the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [adjective] > slightly mad > eccentric or cranky fantastical1531 odd1577 eccentric1685 fanaticized1827 cranky1850 bee-bonneted1856 cornery1887 screwy1887 kinky1889 crankish1892 ratty1895 batchy1898 batsc1901 batty1903 potty1920 offbeat1922 off-centre1930 wacky1935 screwball1936 up the creek1941 oddball1945 wackadoo1958 kooky1959 wiggy1963 flaky1964 nutball1968 woo-woo1971 wacko1977 off-kilter1985 wackadoodle1993 fantastic- the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > pregnancy or gestation > [adjective] greatc1175 with childc1175 with childc1300 baggeda1400 bounda1400 pregnant?a1425 quicka1450 greaterc1480 heavyc1480 teeming1530 great-bellied1533 big1535 boundenc1540 impregnate1540 great-wombeda1550 young with child1566 gravid1598 pregnate1598 pagled1599 enceinte1602 child-great1605 conceived1637 big-bellieda1646 brooding1667 in the (also a) family way1688 in the (also that) way1741 undelivered1799 ensient1818 enwombeda1822 in a delicate condition1827 gestant1851 in pod1890 up the (also a) pole1918 in a particular condition1922 preg?1927 in the spud line1937 up the spout1937 preggy1938 up the stick1941 preggers1942 in pig1945 primigravid1949 preggo1951 in a certain condition1958 gestating1961 up the creek1961 in the (pudding) cluba1966 gravidated- 1941 A. Miller in Kozlenko 100 Radio Plays 22/2 I mean that if I'm killed you're up the creek. 1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 68 Up the creek, lost, either on patrol or during a night out; off one's course. 1945 Penguin New Writing 24 32 Lord, it's my mortar lance corporal. If he breaks we'll be right up the creek. 1960 H. Pinter Caretaker iii. 71 You don't know what you're doing... You're up the creek! You're half off! 1961 H. E. Bates Day of Tortoise 52 I'm in trouble. I'm going to have a baby... I've had it. Good and proper. I'm up the creek. 1961 J. Heller Catch-22 (1962) viii. 78 You really are up the creek, Popinjay. 1963 E. Lambert Drip Dry Man x. 51 I know a girl who thinks her bloke may have put her up the creek. 1969 I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam vi. 134 ‘You okay?’ asked Donovan... ‘I thought you were properly up the creek.’ 3. transferred senses akin to 1. †a. Applied more widely and loosely to any narrow arm or corner of the sea. Obsolete. ΘΠ the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > inlet in river or sea > in sea fleetc893 pillOE arm of the seaOE sounda1300 lougha1387 bracec1400 lough1423 firthc1425 loch1427 resort1477 estuarya1552 inshot1555 mere1574 portlet1577 fret1587 frith1600 sea-gate1605 creek1625 sea-lochc1645 wick1664 fjord1674 voea1688 backwater1867 strait gulf1867 ocean-arm1871 ria1887 fjard1904 geo1934 1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated ii. vi. 87 The Adriatick sea in the inmost creeke neere Venice swels neere foure foote in hight. 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 333 Jersey, and Garnesey..situated within that Creek of Sea which is made by the shore of Bretaign on the one side, and that of Normandie on the other. b. A narrow corner of land running out from the main area; a narrow plain or recess running in between mountains. Cf. cove n.¹ ΘΠ the world > the earth > land > landscape > [noun] > landform > indented recess1651 creek1652 the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hollow or depression > [noun] > hemmed in by hills creek1652 pocket1897 1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved ix. 56 Certain Creeks or corners of Land running into the up-lands. 1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (1681) xi. §3. 233 To How the several Creeks, Corners, and Patches of your Land. 1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine (1858) ii. 136 The plains which run into the mountains are the creeks into which they [the Bedouins] naturally penetrate. II. Senses relating to a cleft or to something crooked. †4. A cleft in the face of a rock, etc.; a crack, fissure, chink, crevice, cranny. Obsolete. ΘΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > [noun] > a crack or breach chinec888 bruche?a1300 crevice1382 scar1390 scorec1400 rimea1425 riftc1425 riving1440 creekc1480 brack1524 rive1527 bruise1530 crack1530 chink1545 chap1553 riff1577 chop1578 chinker1581 coane1584 fraction1587 cranice1603 slifter1607 fracture1641 shake1651 snap1891 α. c1480 (a1400) St. Blaise 43 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 362 A kryk in-[to] a crage he hade, & þare his dwelling has he mad. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 602 Thai clam in-to the crykis [1489 Adv. crykys] swa, Quhill half the craggis thai clummyn had. γ. 1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ei^v/1 A Creke, crick, fissura.1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Kii^v/1 A Crick, rima.1635 R. Brathwait tr. M. Silesio Arcadian Princesse 179 To wals and portels would he lay his eare, Through creeks and crannies too, that he might hear..desir'd applause. 5. a. A narrow or winding passage penetrating the interior of any place and passing out of sight; an out-of-the-way corner. to seek creeks: to seek a hiding place. Obsolete or dialect. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > a secret place, hiding place > [noun] > a nook, corner haleeOE hirnec897 halkea1300 cornerc1384 nookc1450 hele?1527 creek1573 society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, passage, or means of access to a place > [noun] > narrow passage or narrow part of passage chare12.. danger1393 throata1522 creek1573 pass1712 push-through1888 1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 45^v Tom Pyeper, hath houen and puffed vp cheekes, if cheese be so houen, make Cis to seeke creekes. 1582 T. Watson Passionate Cent. of Loue xcv, in Poems (1870) 131 A Labyrinth is a place made full of turnings and creekes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. ii. 38 One that countermands The passages of allies, creekes, and narrow lands. View more context for this quotation 1629 G. Chapman tr. Juvenal Fifth Satyre in Iustification Nero 12 Is no Creeke void? 1681 C. Cotton Wonders of Peake 52 The Cave..stretching itself..As if (past these blind Creeks) we now were come into the..Mountains Womb. 1753 T. Gray Long Story in Six Poems 18 Each hole and cupboard they explore, Each creek and cranny of his chamber. 1808–25 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Crykes ‘Creeks and corners’ is still a common phrase. 1878 Mrs. H. Wood Pomeroy Abbey (ed. 3) 112 We..looked in every crick and corner for it. 1883 G. Allen Colin Clout's Cal. 65 To fill up all the cricks and corners between other plants. b. figurative. A nook, a hidden or secret corner. Π 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. v. sig. Ff.vi/2 And so must sounde doctrine keepe all the faithfull..in their duetie and quiet concord without cracke [1587 creacke] or creauise. 1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1296/1 Throughlie view the hidden and couered creeks of our minds! 1615 J. Day Festivals 261 There is not a creeke or crany in the World, but seemes to bee fraught with it. a1653 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 91 The crooked creekes, Within my heart. 1715 M. Davies Εἰκων Μικρο-βιβλικὴ 249 Jesuitical Creeks and Corners of Superstitious Romanism. †c. Applied to the two cavities of the heart. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > vascular system > heart > [noun] > ventricle or chamber chambera1398 womba1398 ventriclec1400 bosom1578 creek1621 ventricule1742 ventriculus?1768 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. i. iii. 10 The Ventricles, Caules, Kells, Tunicles, Creekes, and parts of it. 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. ii. iv. 27 This Heart though it bee one sole member, yet it may bee divided into two creekes, Right and Left. d. The cleft between the buttocks, rima podicis. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > back > buttock(s) > [noun] > cleft in creekc1300 nocka1516 nick1562 nockandro1611 bum crack1980 c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2450 He..keste him on a scabbed mere, Hise nese went un-to þe crice [rhyme swike]. †6. A turn, a winding, as of a river or crooked way. Also figurative. Obsolete. ΘΠ the world > space > direction > [noun] > straight or constant direction > deviation from > a turn crookingc1380 turnc1390 bightc1400 crook1486 turnagain1545 creek1596 creeking1610 return1610 sinuositya1774 bend1879 1596 J. Davies Orchestra liii. sig. B3^v I loue Mæanders path..Such winding sleights, such turnes and tricks he hath, Such Creekes, such wrenches, and such daliaunce. 1599 J. Davies Nosce Teipsum 43 As Streames, which with their winding banks do play, Stopt by their Creeks, run softly through the plaine. c1653 England's Alarm in R. Bell Anc. Poems, Ballads & Songs Peasantry Eng. (1857) 1857 Painted harlots which they often meet At every creek and corner of the street. 1673 J. Flavell Fountain of Life vii. 80 In every creek, and turning of your lives. a1680 S. Charnock Several Disc. Existence of God (1682) 338 He hath a prospect of every little Creek in any design. †7. figurative. A crooked device; a trick, artifice, contrivance. Obsolete.The early date of this sense makes its history and position doubtful. ΘΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception wrenchc888 swikec893 braida1000 craftOE wile1154 crookc1175 trokingc1175 guile?c1225 hocket1276 blink1303 errorc1320 guileryc1330 sleightc1340 knackc1369 deceitc1380 japec1380 gaudc1386 syllogism1387 mazec1390 mowa1393 train?a1400 trantc1400 abusionc1405 creekc1405 trickc1412 trayc1430 lirtc1440 quaint?a1450 touch1481 pawka1522 false point?1528 practice1533 crink1534 flim-flamc1538 bobc1540 fetcha1547 abuse1551 block1553 wrinklec1555 far-fetch?a1562 blirre1570 slampant1577 ruse1581 forgery1582 crank1588 plait1589 crossbite1591 cozenage1592 lock1598 quiblin1605 foist1607 junt1608 firk1611 overreach?1615 fob1622 ludification1623 knick-knacka1625 flam1632 dodge1638 gimcrack1639 fourbe1654 juggle1664 strategy1672 jilt1683 disingenuity1691 fun1699 jugglementa1708 spring1753 shavie1767 rig?1775 deception1794 Yorkshire bite1795 fakement1811 fake1829 practical1833 deceptivity1843 tread-behind1844 fly1861 schlenter1864 Sinonism1864 racket1869 have1885 ficelle1890 wheeze1903 fast one1912 roughie1914 spun-yarn trick1916 fastie1931 phoney baloney1933 fake-out1955 okey-doke1964 mind-fuck1971 c1405 G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale 131 (Ellesmere MS.) They wene þat no man may hem bigile..The moore queynte crekes [so 4 MSS.; Harl. knakkes] that they make The moore wol I stele. a1627 W. Sclater in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1878) V. Ps. cxvi. 6 Without those slights, or creeks of carnal policy, for which men are in the world esteemed wise. Compounds C1. General attributive. creek-bed n. Π 1852 Southern Literary Messenger 18 314/1 Ahead of us..is a creek-bed, fringed far back into the hills with tree and shrub. 1859 K. Cornwallis Panorama New World I. 111 A creek-bed ran parallel with the road. 1903 S. E. White Forest xiv. 196 If we..followed a creek-bed..we should have made our discovery. 1936 I. L. Idriess Cattle King iv. 30 Often you can dig in a dry creek-bed and obtain soakage water. 1965 M. Shadbolt Among Cinders xx. 194 We walked..following a creek-bed. creek head n. Π 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 145 The Pieces of Swamp between this Channel and the Creek-head. creek-hole n. Π 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 173 In the bankes and sides of these Ponds, you must haue Busshes and Creeke holes, for the Fishe to hide them in from the heate of the Sunne. creek-side n. Π 1649 Maryland Hist. Mag. 8 59 We..went along the said creeke side to the Head thereof. 1751 C. Gist Jrnls. 63 Set out down the said Creek Side N 3 M. 1864 B. Taylor Hannah Thurston ii. 30 The great elms by the creek-side had not yet shed all of their tawny leaves. 1879 J. G. Whittier St. John xvii From island and creek-side Her fishers shall throng. creek-timber n. (U.S.) Π 1790 J. Backus Diary in W. W. Backus Mem. Backus Fam. (1889) 93 Explored the bottom to the Creek timber land. 1836 D. B. Edward Hist. Texas 36 We find..[the] prairie..relieved by creek timbers and solitary groves. C2. creek-bottom n. U.S. level ground beside a stream or brook. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > land near river > [noun] haleOE haugh1487 strath1549 wartha1641 freshes1652 intervale1653 interval1684 riverfront1751 river bottom1752 creek-bottom1822 flat1852 1822 J. Woods Two Years' Resid. Eng. Prairie 224 On the creek bottoms, coffee-berry, poplar, pecon, white walnut. 1831 J. M. Peck Guide for Emigrants ii. 91 (heading) River and Creek Bottoms. 1857 F. L. Olmsted Journey through Texas 81 The soil of the creek-bottoms bears good cotton. 1858 Texas Almanac 78 The timber..is chiefly confined to the river and creek bottoms. 1874 E. Eggleston Circuit Rider iv. 45 I will open that crick bottom, and then I shall make some money. creek-gum n. the Australian river red gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > Australasian trees > [noun] > eucalyptus trees yellow box1662 gum tree1676 white gum tree1733 whip-stick1782 peppermint1790 red gum tree1790 red mahogany1798 white gum1798 box1801 blue gum1802 eucalyptus1809 box tree1819 black-butted gum1820 bloodwood1827 white ash1830 blackbutt1833 morrel1837 mountain ash1837 mallee scrub1845 apple gum1846 flooded gum1847 Moreton Bay ash1847 mallee1848 swamp gum1852 box-gum1855 manna gum1855 white top1856 river gum1860 grey box1861 woolly butt1862 marlock1863 fever tree1867 red ironbark1867 river white gum1867 karri1870 yellow jacket1876 eucalypt1877 yapunyah1878 coolibah1879 scribbly gum1883 forest mahogany1884 yellow jack1884 rose gum1885 Jimmy Low1887 nankeen gum1889 slaty gum1889 sugar-gum1889 apple box1890 Murray red gum1895 creek-gum1898 eucalyptian1901 forest red gum1904 river red gum1920 napunyah1921 whitewash gum1923 ghost gum1928 snow gum1928 Sydney blue gum1932 salmon gum1934 lapunyah1940 1898 E. E. Morris Austral Eng. 178 Creek Gum. 1930 V. Palmer Men are Human x. 89 The sun, visible through a gap in the creek-gums, hung fixed in the sky. Derivatives ˈcreekward adj. towards a creek. ΘΠ the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [adjective] > having inlets > towards inlet creekward1887 1887 C. C. Abbott Waste-land Wanderings iii. 85 Kept a creekward course until out of sight. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022). creekn.² Etymology: Corresponds to early modern Dutch kriecke (also krieckelinghe ‘aurora rutilans, primum diluculum, matutinus splendor, crepusculum’, Kilian), Dutch het krieken van den dag , Low German (Bremen) de krik vam dage , East Frisian 't kriken fan de dag , the creek of day; < earlier Dutch kriecken , krieckelen (Kilian), modern Dutch krieken , East Frisian kreken , kriken , krîken to break or burst through as the day-light. See also greking n., and screak n., skreigh n.², skrike n.Franck thinks the Dutch word connected with the echoic root of Danish krekel cricket, the notion of a creaking sound passing into that of sudden breaking, as in crack: see also Doornkaat Koolman Ostfries. Wbch. Obsolete exc. Scottish. The break (of day); dawn. ΘΚΠ the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > dawn > [noun] aristc825 dawingc900 dayeOE day-rimOE day-redOE mornOE lightOE lightingOE dawning1297 day-rowa1300 grekinga1300 uprista1300 dayninga1325 uprisingc1330 sun arisingc1350 springc1380 springingc1380 day-springa1382 morrowingc1384 dayingc1400 daylighta1425 upspring1471 aurora1483 sky1515 orienta1522 breaking of the day1523 daybreak1530 day-peep1530 morrow dayc1530 peep of the morning1530 prick of the day?1533 morning1535 day-breaking1565 creek1567 sunup1572 breach of the day1579 break of day or morn1584 peep of day1587 uprise1594 dawna1616 day-dawn1616 peep of dawn1751 strike of day1790 skreigh1802 sunbreak1822 day-daw1823 screech1829 dayclean1835 sun dawn1835 first light1838 morning-red1843 piccaninny sun1846 piccaninny daylightc1860 gloaming1873 glooming1877 sparrow-fart1886 crack1887 sun-spring1900 piccaninny dawn1936 1567 G. Turberville tr. G. B. Spagnoli Eglogs iii. 251 (T.) He wak'd at creek of day. 1710 T. Ruddiman in G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneis (new ed.) Gloss. at Greking Scot. dicimus Creek of day. 1723 A. Ramsay Fair Assembly xxiv Soon as the morning creek Has usher'd in the day. 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 46 An' ilka morning by the creek [later ed. screek] of day They're set to work. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2019). Creekn.³adj. Etymology: < creek n.¹ A. n.³ 1. a. An Indian people, also called Muskogee, formerly inhabiting a wide region in south-eastern North America, now settled in Oklahoma; a member of this people. ΘΚΠ the world > people > ethnicities > North American peoples > peoples of South-Eastern America > [noun] Floridian1589 Chickasaw1674 Yamasee1699 Alabama1708 Natchez1708 Santee1709 Cherokee1721 Choctaw1722 Coushatta1722 Creek1725 Yuchi1738 Muskogee1751 Floridan1763 Muskogee1789 Mikasuki1791 Opelousa1805 Karankawa1806 Tunica1806 Melungeon1813 Alabamian1817 Ozark1819 Alabaman1829 1725 G. Chicken Jrnl. in N. D. Mereness Trav. Amer. Col. (1916) I hope your Honour will be speedy to me in your Expresses, Especially in your answer to me when you have heard from the Creeks. 1921 Cambr. Hist. Amer. Lit. I. ii. i. 209 Gaily dressed Creeks, quite oriental in appearance. 1965 [see sense A. 1b]. b. The language of this people, belonging to the Muskogean stock. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > languages of the world > Amerindian > [noun] > northern Amerindian > Penutian > Gulf Penutian > Natchez-Muskogean > Creek Creek1877 Muskogee1907 1877 L. H. Morgan Anc. Society iii. 440 In Crow my husband's brother's wife is ‘my comrade’.., in Creek my ‘present occupant’. 1933 L. Bloomfield Lang. iv. 72 The Muskogean family includes, among other languages, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole. 1965 Canad. Jrnl. Linguistics 10 145 The Yuchi..were conquered by the Creeks... All the Yuchi are bilingual, and there couldn't be two languages further apart than Creek and Yuchi. 2. A confederacy (later Nation) of several peoples and languages of which the Muskogee or Creek proper were the most numerous and prominent. ΘΚΠ the world > people > ethnicities > North American peoples > peoples of South-Eastern America > [noun] > Creek confederacy Mobilec1723 Mobilian1748 Seminole1763 Creek1789 1789 W. Bartram Observ. Creek & Cherokee Indians in Trans. Amer. Ethnol. Soc. (1853) 3 i. 11 The Cricks, or, as they call themselves, Muscoges, or Muscogulges, are a very powerful confederacy. B. adj. 1. Of or pertaining to the people or their language (see sense A. 1). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > languages of the world > Amerindian > [adjective] > Penutian > of specific Penutian languages Creek1725 Choctaw1796 Tsimshian1836 Muskogee1868 Tzeltal1868 Yuki1875 Klamath1881 Takelma1882 Zoque1891 Zoque–Mixe1893 Modoc1907 Yawelmani1907 Sahaptin1921 Totonacan1933 Tzotzil1939 Molale1966 Quichean1968 Mixean1977 1725 G. Chicken Jrnl. in N. D. Mereness Trav. Amer. Col. (1916) Do you understand the Creek Language? 1732 in Cal. State Papers Amer. & W. Indies 217 They [sc. the Spanish] have a party among the Creek Indians as well as we. 1732 in Cal. State Papers Amer. & W. Indies 217 Two of our Indian traders having been killed near the Creek nation in their way thither. 1736 J. Wesley Let. xxviii, in Wks. XII They have sent up such traders, both to the Creek and Chicasaw Indians. 1741 S. Carolina Hist. Soc. Coll. IV. 12 The Creek Indians..sensible of the Danger approaching, acquainted our Traders..with it. 1761 Pennsylvania Gaz. 1 Oct. 2/3 The French Officers at Albama invited the Creek headman to a talk at that fort. 1775 J. Adair Hist. Amer. Indians 2 A large body of the English Indian traders, on their way to the Choktah country, were escorted by a body of Creek and Choktah warriors. 1828 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XIX. 543/2 The Lower Creek Indians. 1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 146/1 Creek Indians were, at the beginning of the present century, one of the most powerful native tribes within the limits of the United States of America. 2. Of or pertaining to the confederacy (see sense A. 2). ΘΚΠ the world > people > ethnicities > North American peoples > peoples of South-Eastern America > [adjective] > Creek confederacy Seminole?a1775 Mikasuki1799 Creek1946 1741 S. Carolina Hist. Soc. Coll. IV. 20 He had also sent Commissions into the Creek Nation. 1791 W. Bartram (title) Travels through North and South Carolina,..the extensive territories of the Muscogulges or Creek confederacy, and the country of the Chactaws. 1868 S. W. Perryman & L. C. Perryman (title) Constitution and laws of the Muskokee or Creek nation, translated into Muskokee language. 1946 G. Foreman Last Trek of Indians 163 They were recorded as part of the Creek Nation, their chiefs participating in the Creek general councils. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2021). † creekv. Etymology: < creek n.¹ Obsolete. 1. intransitive. To run (up) as a creek or tidal inlet; to form a creek. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [verb (intransitive)] > form a creek creeka1552 a1552 J. Leland Itinerary (1711) III. 18 From Lantiant Pille to Bloughan Pille or Creke nere a Mile. it crekith up but a litle. a1552 J. Leland Itinerary (1711) III. 13 Trure Creeke is next, and goith up a 2. Miles creking up from the principal streme. This Creke brekith withyn half a Mile of Truru. 2. intransitive. To bend, turn, wind. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] > change direction > turn or bend > bend or wind twine1553 crankle1598 crinklea1600 creek1610 straggle1612 wind1613 serpentize1699 wander1747 serpentine1767 meander1785 zigzag1787 serpentinize1791 twister1872 snake1875 twist1879 1610 [see creeking n. at Derivatives]. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 451 The salt water so creeketh about it [a town] that it almost insulateth it. Derivatives ˈcreeking n. a bend, turn. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [noun] > straight or constant direction > deviation from > a turn crookingc1380 turnc1390 bightc1400 crook1486 turnagain1545 creek1596 creeking1610 return1610 sinuositya1774 bend1879 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 312 Arun..with sundry creekings..holdeth on his course to the sea. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.¹c1300n.²1567n.³adj.1725v.a1552
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creekn.1

Compounds

Derivatives

creekn.2

Creekn.3adj.

† creekv.

Derivatives

creekn.¹

creekn.²

Creekn.³adj.