craunch meaning (archaic): definition, etymology and quotations

craunch

verb

Etymology See crunch.

Archaic To crush with the teeth; to chew with violence and noise; to crunch.

She would craunch the wing of a lark, bones and all, between her teeth, although it were nine times as large as that of a full-grown turkey; and put a bit of bread into her mouth as big as two twelve-penny loaves.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part II (A Voyage to Brobdingnag):

noun

Etymology See crunch.

Archaic A grinding or crunching sound.

He sat down to write, and occupied himself with certain papers, until there was a far-off sound of wheels: some vehicle was slowly entering the great gates; a craunch upon the gravel sweep.1867, Once a Week, page 242:

Business, Mining A portion of a stratum or vein left in excavating to support the roof.