v.; also 4–6 acroche, accroche. [a. OFr. acroche-r (later accrocher, see AC-) to hook in, draw with a hook; cf. acroc sb.; f. à prep. to + croc crook, hook; an adoption of a word common to Scandinavian, German, and Celtic,—OIcel. krók-r, ODu. croke, Breton krôk, Welsh crwg, Gaelic croc-an. See CROOK.] prop. To draw with a hook or grapple; hence,
1. To draw to oneself, catch, attract, acquire.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. Poems, A. 1068. Þe mone may þer of acroche no myȝte To spotty.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 315. And fire, whan it to tow approcheth, To him anon the strength accrocheth Till with his hete it be devoured. Ibid., I. 314. The ship, which wend his helpe accroche, Draf all to pieces on the roche.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. v. 73 a (1554). Ambitious t’accroche great richesse.
1530. Palsgr., 416. I acroche, as a man dothe that wynneth goodes or landes off another by sleyght, Jaccroche.
2. With to oneself: To grasp or lay hold on what is not one’s own; to usurp (authority or jurisdiction).
1520. Rastall, Stat. 25 Ed. III. viii. § 3. For that the secular Justices doe accroche to them conisance of voidance of benefices or right. Ibid., 25 Edw. III., 6 (anno 1350). The Bishop of Rome accroching to him the Seigniories of such possessions and Benefices, doth giue and graunt the same Benefices to Aliens.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., III. 34. The said Sir Hughes had accroached to them the royall power in divers manner.
1750. Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 595. Aiding and abetting the five appealed and attainted persons, in their accroaching to them the royal power.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvi. 374. They had attempted to accroach to themselves royal power.
3. intr. To encroach. [See A- pref. 7.]
1530. Palsgr., 417. The mighty men accroche ever upon their poore neyghbours: les puissans accrochent tousjours sur leurs poures voysyns.
