From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Crutch \Crutch\, verb (used with an object) To support on crutches; to prop up. [R.]
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse. --Dryden.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Crutch \Crutch\ (kr[u^]ch; 224), noun; pl. {Crutches} (-[e^]z). [OE. crucche, AS. crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G. kr["u]cke, Dan. krykke, Sw. krycka, and to E. crook. See {Crook}, and cf. {Cricket} a low stool.]
1. A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other. --Shak.
Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone. --H. Smith.
2. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
3. (Naut.) (a) A knee, or piece of knee timber. (b) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch. See {Crotch}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Crotch \Crotch\ (kr[o^]ch; 224), noun; pl. {Crotches} (kr[o^]ch"[e^]z). [Cf. {Crotchet}, {Crutch}.]
1. The angle formed by the parting of two legs or branches; a fork; the point where a trunk divides; as, the crotch of a tree. more specifically, the space on the human torso between the two legs; also, the corresponding part between the legs of a pair of pants, which is in contact with the crotch of the wearer; as, pants with a tight crotch have become very popular. [1913 Webster +PJC]
2. (Naut.) A stanchion or post of wood or iron, with two arms for supporting a boom, spare yards, etc.; -- called also {crane} and {crutch}. --Totten.
3. (Billiards) In the three-ball carom game, a small space at each corner of the table. See {Crotched}, below. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
2: anything that serves as an expedient; "he uses drugs as a psychological crutch"
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
84 Moby Thesaurus words for "crutch": Malacca cane, V, advocate, alpenstock, arm, athletic supporter, back, backbone, backing, bandeau, baton, bearer, bra, brace, bracer, bracket, branch, brassiere, buttress, cane, carrier, cervix, corset, crook, crosier, cross, cross-staff, crotch, crutch-stick, delta, fan, fork, foundation garment, fulcrum, furcula, furculum, girdle, groin, guy, guywire, handstaff, inguen, jock, jockstrap, lituus, mainstay, maintainer, mast, neck, offshoot, pastoral staff, paterissa, prong, prop, quarterstaff, ramification, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, rest, resting place, rigging, shillelagh, shoulder, shroud, spine, sprit, staff, standing rigging, stave, stay, stem, stick, stiffener, strengthener, support, supporter, sustainer, swagger stick, swanking stick, trident, upholder, walking stick, wishbone
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