crosier

noun

cro·​sier ˈkrō-zhər How to pronounce crosier (audio)
variants or crozier
1
: a staff resembling a shepherd's crook carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office
2
: a plant structure with a coiled end

Examples of crosier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
World & Nation Notre Dame’s resurrection: Its chief architect on rebuilding France’s ‘heart’ in 5 years Dec. 6, 2024 The ceremony began with Ulrich symbolically reopening Notre Dame’s grand wooden doors, tapping them three times with his fire-scarred crosier. Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024 Monsignor Laurent Ulrich, the archbishop of Paris, will then officially reopen the cathedral by banging his crosier on the main door. Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024 McElroy moved slowly during the service, often resting his hands on a wooden crosier, a staff shaped like a shepherd’s crook. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crocer crosier bearer, from Anglo-French crosser, from croce, crosse crosier, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English crycc crutch — more at crutch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crosier was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near crosier

Cite this Entry

“Crosier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crosier. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

crosier

noun
cro·​sier
variants or crozier
ˈkrō-zhər
: a staff like a shepherd's crook carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office

More from Merriam-Webster on crosier

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!