Obs. Forms: 5 crapault, -pauld, -paut, -pald, crepaud(e, -pawd, 6 crapaude, -pawd, (crapeaux, cropolte, crapal), 7 crapaud; 5 cra-, crepawnde, 6 crapon. [a. F. crapaud, in OF. crapaut, -ot, for earlier -ault, = Pr. crapaut, grapaut, OCat. grapaut, grapalt, med.L. crapaldus, crapollus: see Diez, Littré, Hatzfeld.]
1. A toad.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., II. xv. 99. Yf the tode, Crapault, or spyncop, byte a man or woman, they be in daunger for to dye. Ibid. (1485), Chas. Gt., 89. Serpentes, crapauldes, and other beestes.
1634. Peacham, Gentl. Exerc., III. 152. The old Armes of France were the three Toades or Crapauds.
2. (More fully crapaud-stone.) A precious stone formerly believed to be produced in the head of the toad: cf. Shaks., As You Like It, II. i. 13; a TOADSTONE. (The stones so named were of many kinds.)
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 101. Crepawnde, or crapawnde, precyous stone [Pynson crepaud], smaragdus.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 3. No man whyhs [= wys] The verteuous crepaude despyse lest, Thow [= though] a todys crowne wer’ hys fyrst nest.
1465. Will of Peke (Somerset Ho.). My crepaude stone.
1557. Will of G. Amyas. A stone called a Cropolte.
1558. Gifts to Q. Eliz., in Nichols, Progr., II. 539. A jewell, contayning a crapon or toade-stone set in golde.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 11. Her haire like Crapal stone.
