1 crake | Definition of crake
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crake

noun
\ ˈkrāk How to pronounce crake (audio) \

Definition of crake

1 : any of various rails especially : a short-billed rail (such as the corncrake)
2 : the corncrake's cry

Examples of crake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Corn crakes usually migrate to spend the winter in the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. — Richard O. Prum, New York Times, "The Passion and Peril of Birding," 23 Jan. 2018 The Cedar Beach bird was only the second corn crake recorded in New York State since Grover Cleveland was president. — Richard O. Prum, New York Times, "The Passion and Peril of Birding," 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crake.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of crake

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for crake

Middle English, probably from Old Norse krāka crow or krākr raven; akin to Old English crāwan to crow

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More from Merriam-Webster on crake

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with crake

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crake

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