noun
1A groove at the end of a cask or barrel to receive the edge of the head.
‘Near each end of body of the barrel, a groove, called the croze, is cut into the inside of the barrel.’- ‘To do this the hoops are loosened and the head is inserted into the croze.’
- 1.1A cooper's tool for making croze grooves.
- ‘This croze plane has two nicker blades and a square croze blade, indicating that it was intended for making beer casks.’
Origin
Early 17th century perhaps from French creux, creuse ‘hollow’.
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