1. [n]  large long-necked wading bird of marshes and plains in many parts of the world
2. [n]  lifts and moves heavy objects; lifting tackle is suspended from a pivoted boom that rotates around a vertical axis
3. [n]  United States poet (1899-1932)
4. [n]  United States writer (1871-1900)
5. [v]  of the neck; so as to see better

1. \Crane\ (kr[=a]n), n. [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan,
   G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. ge`ranos, L. grus,
   W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav[i^], Lith. gerve, Icel.
   trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. [root]24. Cf. {Geranium}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) A wading bird of the genus {Grus}, and allied
      genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill,
      and long legs and neck.
   Note: The common European crane is {Grus cinerea}. The
         sand-hill crane ({G. Mexicana}) and the whooping crane
         ({G. Americana}) are large American species. The
         Balearic or crowned crane is {Balearica pavonina}. The
         name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and
         cormorants.
   2. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and,
      while holding them suspended, transporting them through a
      limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a
      projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post
      or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so
      called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the
      neck of a crane See Illust. of {Derrick}.
   3. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side
      or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over
      a fire.
   4. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.
   5. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support
      spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See {Crotch}, 2.
   {Crane fly} (Zo["o]l.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of
      the genus {Tipula}.
   {Derrick crane}. See {Derrick}.
   {Gigantic crane}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Adjutant}, n., 3.
   {Traveling crane}, {Traveler crane}, {Traversing crane}
      (Mach.), a crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead
      crane consisting of a crab or other hoisting apparatus
      traveling on rails or beams fixed overhead, as in a
      machine shop or foundry.
   {Water crane}, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout,
      for filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with
      water.
   

2. \Crane\ (kr[=a]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Craned}
   (kr[=a]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Craning}.]
   1. To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with
      up. [R.]
            What engines, what instruments are used in craning
            up a soul, sunk below the center, to the highest
            heavens.                              --Bates.
            An upstart craned up to the height he has.
                                                  --Massinger.
   2. To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane
      the neck disdainfully. --G. Eliot.
   

3. \crane\, v. i.
   to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better;
   as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap.
   --Beaconsfield. Thackeray.
         The passengers eagerly craning forward over the
         bulwarks.                                --Howells.
   

4. \Crane\, n.
   1. Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end,
      used for supporting a suspended weight.
   2. (Zo["o]l.) The American blue heron ({Ardea herodias}).
      [Local, U. S.]
   

(Isa. 38:14; Jer. 8:7). In both of these passages the Authorized Version has reversed the Hebrew order of the words. "Crane or swallow" should be "swallow or crane," as in the Revised Version. The rendering is there correct. The Hebrew for crane is _'agur_, the Grus cincerea, a bird well known in Palestine. It is migratory, and is distinguished by its loud voice, its cry being hoarse and melancholy.