crew English · revision 3879

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1455|origins=la crēscere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kruː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|crue|t=reinforcement, body of soldiers]],^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|frm|crue|t=increase]],^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) from Old French creüe “an increase, recruit, military reinforcement”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the feminine past participle of [[m|fro|creistre|t=to grow]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|crēscere|t=to arise, grow]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*ker-|t=to grow]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[crescent]], [[accrue]], [[recruit]] and [[increase]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A group of soldiers sent as reinforcements, a sense now obsolete: 1455 in the OED,^(OED 1989) mid-15th century in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and about 1437 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the 16th century it was applied to any organized armed band and, more generally, to a company of people,^(Cresswell 2021) from 1570 in the OED and Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) often with a dismissive tone.^(OED 1989) A gang of workmen on a particular job is from the 1690s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the sailors who man a ship from 1692.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A film or recording team is from 1954.^(OED 1989) The verb, to act as a member of a crew, is from 1935.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) The ''crew cut'', first attested in 1938, is named after the boat crews at Harvard and Yale who adopted it,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and the ''crew neck'' after the close-necked sweaters the rowers wore.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1455 – a military reinforcement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1570 – any company of people.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1692 – a ship's company.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1690s – a gang of workmen.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1935 – verb.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1938 – ''crew cut''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1954 – a film crew.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A group of people working together; a [[gang]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A group of people gathered together; a crowd or set.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # All the people who work on a ship or aircraft, sometimes excluding the officers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A rowing team.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A band of armed men.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To serve as a member of a crew, or on a ship or aircraft.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[crewless]]

+ * [[aircrew]]

+ * [[crewmate]]

+ * [[crewman]]

+ * [[uncrewed]]

+ * [[crew cut]]

+ * [[crew chief]]

+ * [[crew neck]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crescent]]

+ * [[accrue]]

+ * [[recruit]]

+ * [[increase]]

+ * [[crescendo]]

+ * [[create]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Crew is also a chiefly British past tense of the verb [[crow]].^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) A different crew, a pen for animals or a hut, from Scottish Gaelic crò and Welsh crau, is recorded from 1669.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}