† crapaud Obs.
Forms: 5 crapault, -pauld, -paut, -pald, crepaud(e, -pawd, 6 crapaude, -pawd, (crapeaux, cropolte, crapal), 7 crapaud; 5 cra-, crepawnde, 6 crapon.
[a. F. crapaud, in OF. crapaut, -ot, for earlier -ault, = Pr. crapaut, grapaut, OCat. grapaut, grapalt, med.L. crapaldus, crapollus: see Diez, Littré, Hatzfeld.]
1. A toad.
| 1481 Caxton Myrr. ii. xv. 99 Yf the tode, Crapault, or spyncop, byte a man or woman, they be in daunger for to dye. 1485 ― Chas. Gt. 89 Serpentes, crapauldes, and other beestes. 1634 Peacham Gentl. Exerc. iii. 152 The old Armes of France were the three Toades or Crapauds. |
2. (More fully crapaud-stone.) A precious stone formerly believed to be produced in the head of the toad: cf. Shakes. As You Like It ii. i. 13; a toad-stone. (The stones so named were of many kinds.)
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 101 Crepawnde, or crapawnde, precyous stone [Pynson crepaud], smaragdus. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 3 No man whyhs [= wys] The verteuous crepaude despyse lest, Thow [= though] a todys crowne wer' hys fyrst nest. 1465 Will of Peke (Somerset Ho.), My crepaude stone. 1557 Will of G. Amyas, A stone called a Cropolte. 1558 Gifts to Q. Eliz. in Nichols Progr. II. 539 A jewell, contayning a crapon or toade-stone set in golde. 1580 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 11 Her haire like Crapal stone. |