cref

n. [ From older accrue accession, reenforcement, hence, company, crew; the first syllable being misunderstood as the indefinite article. See Accrue, Crescent. ] 1. A company of people associated together; an assemblage; a throng. [ 1913 Webster ]

There a noble crew
Of lords and ladies stood on every side. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The company of seamen who man a ship, vessel, or at; the company belonging to a vessel or a boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word crew, in law, is ordinarily used as equivalent to ship's company, including master and other officers. When the master and other officers are excluded, the context always shows it. Story. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In an extended sense, any small body of men associated for a purpose; a gang; as (Naut.), the carpenter's crew; the boatswain's crew.

Syn. -- Company; band; gang; horde; mob; herd; throng; party. [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. of Crow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perh. for clewel, dim. of clew a ball of thread; or cf. D. krul curl, E. curl. √26. ] Worsted yarn, slackly twisted, used for embroidery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Embroidery in crewels, commonly done upon some plain material, such as linen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Cruet. [ 1913 Webster ]