Etymology From Middle English crome, cromme, crumme, crume, from Old English cruma (“crumb, fragment”), from Proto-Germanic *krumô, *krūmô (“fragment, crumb”). The b is unetymological, as in limb, appearing in the mid-15th century to match crumble and words like dumb, numb, thumb. Cognate with Dutch kruim (“crumb”), Low German Krome, Krume (“crumb”), German Krume (“crumb”), Danish krumme (“crumb”), Swedish dialectal krumma (“crumb”), Swedish inkråm (“crumbs, giblets”), Icelandic krumur (“crumb”), Latin grūmus (“a little heap”).
A small piece which breaks off from baked food (such as cake, biscuit or bread).
The pigeons were happily pecking at crumbs of bread on the ground.
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 16:21:
1 more example
At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
2
A small piece of any other solid substance.
Then erase any pencil lines with a good, soft eraser, rubbing gently, in only one direction. A dustbrush can be useful in removing any eraser crumbs.2012, Caroline Joy Adams, An Italic Calligraphy Handbook, page 79:
Production of rubber granules, or crumb, is well-established in this country.2007, R. E. Hester, R. M. Harrison, Waste Treatment and Disposal, page 109:
5
The soft internal portion of bread, surrounded by crust.
Dust unto dust, what must be, must; / If you can't get crumb, you'd best eat crust.1861, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford:
6
A mixture of sugar, cocoa and milk, used to make industrial chocolate.
All Dad can think of is a gift certificate from the Melody Inn? And my crumb of a boyfriend doesn't even show up? This is a birthday?1999, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Alice on the Outside, page 146:
Etymology From Middle English crome, cromme, crumme, crume, from Old English cruma (“crumb, fragment”), from Proto-Germanic *krumô, *krūmô (“fragment, crumb”). The b is unetymological, as in limb, appearing in the mid-15th century to match crumble and words like dumb, numb, thumb. Cognate with Dutch kruim (“crumb”), Low German Krome, Krume (“crumb”), German Krume (“crumb”), Danish krumme (“crumb”), Swedish dialectal krumma (“crumb”), Swedish inkråm (“crumbs, giblets”), Icelandic krumur (“crumb”), Latin grūmus (“a little heap”).
1
To cover with crumbs.
2
To break into crumbs or small pieces with the fingers; to crumble.