croup

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an illness, chiefly in young children, that causes a harsh barking cough and difficulty breathing

   The doctor said the child's barking cough was croup.

2. 2
   noun

   the upper part of a horse's or other four-legged animal's hindquarters

   A dark patch marked the horse's croup.

3. 3
   verb

   to make a hoarse, croaking sound

   The sick child began to croup during the night.

The disease name comes from Scots croup, “to croak or speak hoarsely,” imitating its characteristic cough. The anatomical sense entered through French croupe, “rump,” and has a separate history despite sharing the same spelling.

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