Obs. Also 4–5 crudde, 6 croude, crowde. [Anglo-Fr. crudde, app. corresponding to OF. crute, crote, later croute = Pr. crota, It. grotta:—late L. crupta, grupta, for L. crypta: see CRYPT. Of the d in the AF. and Eng. word no explanation has been found.] An underground vault, a crypt. (Also commonly in pl.)
1399. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 129. Pro ostio in le Cruddes, 6d. Ibid. (1472), 225. Lez Cruddes voc. Seint Wilfride nedyll.
1478. Botoner, Itin. (Nasmith, 1778), 201. Ad introitum ecclesiæ voltæ vocatæ le crowd,… ad descensum voltæ de le croude.
1501. Will of Barre (Somerset Ho.). To be buried in the Crowde of Saint John Baptist in Bristow.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 700. Within the Church, Saint Wilfrides Needle…. A narrow hole this was, in the Crowdes or close vaulted roome under the ground. Ibid., I. 703. In a certaine vault or crowdes or a little chappell under the ground.
1658. Dugdale, St. Pauls, 117. Heretofore called Ecclesia S. Fidis, in Crypris (or [St. Faith] in the Croudes, according to the vulgar expression).
