† ˈcruset Obs.
Also 6 croset, -ette, 7 cruzet.
[a. F. creuset (Paré 16th c.) crucible.
The ulterior etymology is complicated and uncertain; cf. crusell, and see Hatzfeld, Littré, Diez, Grimm s.v. Krausel, Doornkaat-Koolman s.v. Krusel. The OF. croisel, croiseul meant both night-lamp and crucible: cf. crusie.]
A crucible.
See also crusie.
| 1558–80 Warde tr. Alexis' Secr. i. vi. 115 b, Poure the Siluer out of the croset. Ibid. (ed. 1) 118 Set it in the fire in a Goldsmithes croset. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. xiii. 247 They cary the bars of silver unto the Assay maister..he cuttes a small peece of every one..and puttes them into a cruset. 1611 Cotgr., Creuset, a crucible, cruzet, or cruet: a little earthen pot, wherein Goldsmithes melt their siluer. 1755 Johnson, Cruset, a goldsmith's melting pot. Phillips. |