noun
croup
kroop
noun
1
A childhood respiratory illness that causes a harsh, barking cough and breathing difficulty.
"The toddler was up half the night with croup, coughing like a seal."
2
The rump or hindquarters of a horse.
"The saddle blanket was draped over the horse's croup."
How to Use Croup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually refers to the barking childhood cough illness; also the back end of a horse.
Common mistake
In everyday use "croup" almost always means the illness — the horse-anatomy sense is mainly used by riders and vets.
Common pairings
a case of croup
croup cough
Word Forms
crouped past tense, croups plural, croups singular
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The toddler was up half the night with _____, coughing like a seal.
Etymology
From Old French croupe ("rump, body"), from an Old Norse word for the body or trunk.