Crane \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. (Zool.) A wading bird of the genus {Grus}, and allied
      genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill,
      and long legs and neck.
      
[1913 Webster]


   Note: The common European crane is {Grus cinerea}. The
         sand-hill crane ({Grus Mexicana}) and the whooping
         crane ({Grus Americana}) are large American species.
         The Balearic or crowned crane is {Balearica pavonina}.
         The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons
         and cormorants.
         
[1913 Webster]


   2. Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end,
      used for supporting a suspended weight.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   3. 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}.
      
[1913 Webster]


   4. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side
      or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over
      a fire.
      
[1913 Webster]


   5. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.
      
[1913 Webster]


   6. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support
      spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See {Crotch}, 2.
      
[1913 Webster]


   7. (Zool.) The American blue heron ({Ardea herodias}).
      [Local, U. S.]
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   {Crane fly} (Zool.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of
      the genus {Tipula}.

   {Derrick crane}. See {Derrick}.

   {Gigantic crane}. (Zool.) 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.
      
[1913 Webster]

Heron \Her"on\, n. [OE. heiroun, heroun, heron, hern, OF.
   hairon, F. h['e]ron, OHG. heigir; cf. Icel. hegri, Dan.
   heire, Sw. h[aum]ger, and also G. h[aum]her jay, jackdaw,
   OHG. hehara, higere, woodpecker, magpie, D. reiger heron, G.
   reiher, AS. hr[=a]gra. Cf. {Aigret}, {Egret}.] (Zool.)
   Any wading bird of the genus {Ardea} and allied genera, of
   the family {Ardeidae}. The herons have a long, sharp bill,
   and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe
   toothed. The common European heron ({Ardea cinerea}) is
   remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was
   formerly hunted with the larger falcons.
   
[1913 Webster]


   Note: There are several common American species; as, the
         great blue heron ({Ardea herodias}); the little blue
         ({Ardea coerulea}); the green ({Ardea virescens});
         the snowy ({Ardea candidissima}); the night heron or
         qua-bird ({Nycticorax nycticorax}). The plumed herons
         are called {egrets}.
         
[1913 Webster]


   {Herons bill} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Erodium}; -- so
      called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the
      head and beak of the heron.
      
[1913 Webster]