King James Bible Dictionary

(Isaiah 38:14; Jeremiah 8:7). In both of these passages the Authorized Version has reversed the Hebrew order of the words. "Crane or swallow" should be "swallow or crane," as in the Revised Version. The rendering is there correct. The Hebrew for crane is 'agur, the Grus cincerea, a bird well known in Palestine. It is migratory, and is distinguished by its loud voice, its cry being hoarse and melancholy.

An amphibious bird.
Isaiah 38:14; Jeremiah 8:7

The crane (Grus cinerea) is a native of Europe and Asia. It stand about four feet high. Its color is ashen gray, with face and neck nearly black. It feeds on seeds, roots, insects and small quadrupeds. It retires in winter to the warmer climates. (Jeremiah 8:7)

CRANE, noun [Gr., the plant, cranes-bill.]

1. A migratory fowl of the genus Ardea, belonging to the grallic order. The bill is straight, sharp and long, with a furrow from the nostrils towards the point; the nostrils are linear, and the feet have four toes. These fowls have long legs, and a long neck, being destined to wade and seek their food among grass and reeds in marshy grounds. The common crane is about four feet in length, of a slender body, with ash-coloured feathers.

2. A machine for raising great weights, consisting of a horizontal arm, or piece of timber, projecting from a post, and furnished with a tackle or pulley.

3. A siphon, or crooked pipe for drawing liquors out of a cask.

CRANE-FLY, noun An insect of the genus Tipula, of many species. The mouth is a prolongation of the head; the upper jaw is arched; the palpi are two, curved and longer than the head; the proboscis is short.

CRANES-BILL, noun The plant Geranium, of many species; so named from an appendage of the seed-vessel, which resembles the beak of a crane or stork. Some of the species have beautiful flowers and a fragrant scent, and several of them are valued for their astringent properties. [See Crane.]

2. A pair of pinchers used by surgeons.