cranch

verb

1. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of craunch.

   “His path soon became encumbered, and first he stumbled over a slimy skull, then trod upon some bones that cranched under his feet, while strange whisperings seemed to spread around him, till, with no light joy, he saw the farther wall of the vault, with an open arch leading out into some place beyond.”

   “And before the army of the land-folk was riding a huge witch-wife upon a wolf; the worlf had a man's carcase in his mouth, and the blood was dripping and dropping from his jaws; and when the wolf had eaten up that carcase, the witch-wife threw another into his jaws; and so, one after another; and the wolf cranched and swallowed them all .”

   “He need not have been alarmed, for no one came for any, and he munched and cranched his portion in peace.”

   “They then burned one finger, and cranched another with their teeth, and pressed and twisted those which were already mangled, with the rage of demons.”