▪ I. † ˈcrotey, v. Obs.
[app. a. Anglo-Fr. *croteyer = OF. *crotoyer, f. OF. crote, crotte dung of hares, etc.]
trans. and intr. Of hares, rabbits, etc.: To evacuate their excrement.
| a 1425 Master of Game (Bodl. MS. 546 fo. 13 b), The hare..alwey..croteyeþ yn o manere. Ibid. fo. 26 Þei [bucks] croteieþ hure fumes yn dyuerse maneres. 1486 Bk. St. Albans E iij a, The hare..fymaes and crotis and Roungeth euermoore. |
▪ II. † crotey, n. Obs.
Also crotaye, crottoye.
[f. crotey v.]
In pl. = crottels.
| a 1425 Master of Game (Bodl. MS. 546 fo. 70) Ȝif þe croteyes beþ grete and þikke. 1575 Turberv. Venerie 65 To iudge an olde harte by the fewmishing, the which they make in brode croteys. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Wks. i. 93 1 A Hare or Conneys Crottoyes. 1741 Compl. Fam. Piece ii. i. 301 The Croteys or Excrements of a Buck [Hare]. 1807 Sportsman's Dict. s.v. Bear, [Bears] cast their lesses sometimes in round croteys. |