crane1

 
Pronunciation: /kreɪn/

noun

  • a large, tall machine used for moving heavy objects by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam: a dockside crane [as modifier]: a crane driver
  • a moving platform supporting a television or film camera: a very long tracking shot done with dolly and crane [as modifier]: the opening crane shot

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] stretch out one’s body or neck in order to see something: she craned forward to look more clearly
  • [with object] stretch out (one’s neck) so as to see something: she craned her neck to see past me
  • 2 [with object and adverbial] move (a heavy object) with a crane: the wheelhouse module is craned into position on the hull

Origin:

Middle English: figuratively from crane2 (the same sense development occurred in the related German Kran and Dutch kraan (see crane2), and in French grue). The verb dates from the late 16th century