croup

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈkrüp 

: the rump of a quadruped

croup

2 of 2

noun (2)

: inflammation, edema, and subsequent obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi especially of infants and young children that is typically caused by a parainfluenza virus and is marked by episodes of difficult breathing and low-pitched cough resembling the bark of a seal

croupy

ˈkrü-pē 

adjective

Examples of croup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The doctor's initial assessment was that Reese might have the croup (larynx and trachea inflammation). —Mia Taylor, Parents, 26 July 2024

Some babies get a barking cough that resembles croup. —Evan Forster, Parents, 17 June 2024

Everything from respiratory viruses like a cold, flu, or croup to bacterial infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia can trigger coughing in babies. —Evan Forster, Parents, 17 June 2024

In some cases, parainfluenza can cause more severe diseases, including croup, bronchitis and pneumonia. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024

What's more, children's hospitals have also been inundated with kids sick with other respiratory viruses, such as severe colds, croup and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. —NBC News, 5 Aug. 2021

In addition, doctors have noticed another symptom in young kids: a barking cough that resembles croup. —Nicole Harris, Parents, 29 Sep. 2023

Prescription medications for croup might include glucocorticoids for mild cases of croup or dexamethasone or epinephrine for moderate to severe croup. —Ashley Abramson, Health, 9 Mar. 2023

Also, croup causes swelling of the voice box and the windpipe, which are part of the upper respiratory tract. —Ashley Abramson, Health, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English croupe, croup, borrowed from Anglo-French croupe (also continental Old French), probably going back to an Old Low Franconian outcome of Germanic *kruppa- "something rounded, bulge" — more at crop entry 1

Note: This etymology is traditional, and phonetically impeccable, though "hindquarters of an animal" is not among the many meanings attested in Germanic for this etymon. Compare group entry 1. See also croupier, crupper.

Noun (2)

noun derivative of croup "to cry hoarsely, croak" (now English regional and Scots), probably of imitative origin

Note: Compare synonymous 16th-century crope, croape, and crow entry 2, croak entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1765, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

croup

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrüp 

: the rump of a four-footed animal

croup

2 of 2 noun

: a laryngitis especially of infants marked by periods of difficult breathing and a hoarse cough

croupy

ˈkrü-pē 

adjective

Etymology

Noun

Middle English croupe "rump," from early French croupe (same meaning), of Germanic origin

Noun

from an English dialect word croup "to cry or cough"; probably originally imitating the sound

Medical Definition

croup

noun

ˈkrüp 

: inflammation, edema, and subsequent obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi especially of infants and young children that is typically caused by a parainfluenza virus and is marked by episodes of difficult breathing and low-pitched cough resembling the bark of a seal

croupous

ˈkrü-pəs 

adjective

croupy

-pē 

adjective

croupier; croupiest