to crib
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To purloin, or appropriate to one's own use, part of any thing intrusted to one's care.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to crib” mean?
To purloin, or appropriate to one's own use, part of any thing intrusted to one's care.
Is “to crib” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.