Noun
A measure of herrings, either imprecise or sometimes legally specified. It has oftentimes been about 37½ imperial gallons, or ~750 herrings on average (up to 1200 or even ~2500).
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Very flattering indeed has been the success of the fishermen; and many boats have come in loaded, averaging thirty or forty crans each (every cran estimated at 1,000 herrings), and disposed of their cargoes at nine shillings per cran; but the price has been since raised to fifteen shillings.
His brother caught three hundred cran when the seas were lavish, / Threw the bleeders back in the sea and went upon the parish.
[…] And fish the knolls on the North Sea Holes And try your luck at the North Shields Gut With a catch of a hundred cran.
More examples (1)
But I've fished a lifetime, boy and man, And the final trawl scarcely makes a cran.
A barrel made to hold such a measure.
Usage- broadly
- Obsolete
- Rare
Noun
An embellishment played on a chanter of a bagpipe or a tin whistle, consisting of a series of grace notes produced by rapid sequential lifting of the fingers.
Noun
a capacity unit used for measuring fresh herring