Crust (kr?st), n. [L.
crusta: cf. OF. crouste, F. croûte;
prob. akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; ice, E. crystal, from
the same root as E. crude, raw. See Raw,
and cf. Custard.] 1. The hard
external coat or covering of anything; the hard exterior surface
or outer shell; an incrustation; as, a crust of
snow.
I have known the statute of an emperor quite hid
under a crust of dross.
Addison.
Below this icy crust of conformity, the
waters of infidelity lay dark and deep as ever.
Prescott.
2. (Cookery) (a)
The hard exterior or surface of bread, in distinction from
the soft part or crumb; or a piece of bread grown dry or
hard. (b) The cover or case of a pie,
in distinction from the soft contents. (c)
The dough, or mass of doughy paste, cooked with a potpie; --
also called dumpling.
Th' impenetrable crust thy teeth
defies.
Dryden.
He that keeps nor crust nor crumb.
Shak.
They . . . made the crust for the venison
pasty.
Macaulay.
3. (Geol.) The exterior portion of
the earth, formerly universally supposed to inclose a molten
interior.
4. (Zoöl.) The shell of
crabs, lobsters, etc.
5. (Med.) A hard mass, made up of
dried secretions blood, or pus, occurring upon the surface of the
body.
6. An incrustation on the interior of
wine bottles, the result of the ripening of the wine; a deposit
of tartar, etc. See Beeswing.
Crust, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Crusted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Crusting.] [Cf. OF. crouster, L. crustare.
See Crust, n. ] To cover with a
crust; to cover or line with an incrustation; to
incrust.
The whole body is crusted over with
ice.
Boyle.
And now their legs, and breast, and bodies
stood
Crusted with bark.
Addison.
Very foul and crusted bottles.
Swift.
Their minds are crusted over, like diamonds
in the rock.
Felton.
Crust, v. i. To gather or
contract into a hard crust; to become incrusted.
The place that was burnt . . . crusted and
healed.
Temple.
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Webster Unabridged