Obs. Also cranse, crance, craunce, corance. [a. Ger. (MHG., OHG.) kranz, whence Du. krans, in Kilian 1599, krants, wreath, garland, chaplet.] A garland, chaplet, wreath.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 246. The filthy queane weares a craunce, and is a Frenchwoman, forsooth.
1596. in Nichols, Progr. Q. Eliz. (1823), III. 391. After they received some reward, and with a cranse with their ladies gave daunses with them.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. i. 255 (Qo.). Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants [Fo. rites].
16[?]. Chapman, Alphonsus, Wks. 1873, III. 238. Clowns with each of them a miter with corances on their heads.
1706. J. Watson, Collect. Sc. Poems, II. 10 (Jam.). Thair heids wer garnisht gallandlie With costly crancis maid of gold.
[1890. Hardman, Our Prayer-bk., 138. The ‘crants’ were garlands which it was usual to make of white paper, and to hang up in the church on the occasion of a young girl’s funeral…. Some of these were hanging up in Flamborough Church, Yorkshire, as late as 1850.]
