krɪb n. & v. --n. 1 a a child's
bed with barred or latticed sides; a cot. b a
model of
the Nativity of
Christ, with a
manger as a bed. 2 a barred
container or rack
for animal fodder. 3 colloq. a a
translation of a
text for the (esp. surreptitious)
use of students. b plagiarized
work etc. 4 a
small house or
cottage. 5 a
framework lining the
shaft of a mine. 6 colloq. a
cribbage. b a set of cards
given to the
dealer at cribbage by
all the players. 7
heavy crossed timbers used in foundations in
loose soil etc. 8 sl. a
brothel. 9
Austral. & NZ a
light meal;
food. --v.tr. (also absol.) (cribbed, cribbing) 1 colloq.
copy (another person's work) unfairly or
without acknowledgement. 2
confine in a small
space. 3 colloq.
pilfer,
steal. 4 colloq.
grumble. øcrib-biting a horse's
habit of
biting the manger
while noisily
breathing in
and swallowing. øøcribber n. [OE crib(b)]