1the person in charge of a gaming table, responsible for gathering in and paying out money or tokens.
2 historical the assistant chairman at a public dinner, seated at the lower end of the table.
Origin:
early 18th century (denoting a person standing behind a gambler to give advice): French, from Old French cropier 'pillion rider, rider on the croup', related to Old French croupe(see croup2). Compare with crupper
