Crèche
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A representation of the nativity scene.
"At last, all was complete. The creche at Greccio looked like a new Bethlehem. The baby Jesus would be placed in the manger at midnight Mass."
- 2 A day nursery. Ireland, UK
"They drop their two-year-old off at the crèche in the morning before they go to work."
- 3 A hospital for orphaned infants; a foundling hospital. historical
"One road leads to desertion of the child in a convenient hallway; another to the creche of a foundling hospital; a third, to a boarding home, good or indifferent, for the child."
- 4 A group of young who stay together for protection. collective
Example
More examples"At last, all was complete. The creche at Greccio looked like a new Bethlehem. The baby Jesus would be placed in the manger at midnight Mass."
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French crèche (“manger”), from Frankish *krippija, *kribbija, from Proto-Germanic *kribjǭ. Doublet of crib. Daycare meaning comes from recent use in France French (whereas in Canadian French garderie is used instead).