Obs. Also 4 craþayn, crayon (? craþon), crathan. [Of uncertain form and obscure etymology: app. the same in meaning as CRACHOUN, though the forms of both words seem well established.] A term of depreciation: (app.) Craven, caitiff.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1773. He cared for his cortaysye, lest craþayn he were.
c. 1400. Melayne, 680. He saide: ‘Allas, sir Charllyone, That thou thus sone be comes a crayon.’
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3078. I þat was straȝt to þe sternes am streken now to grond, Now craton, now caitefe [Dubl. MS. Nowe a crathan and a Knaffe], now am I kast vndire.
