crotchet
/ˈkɹɑt͡ʃ.ɪt/
"crotchet" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“crotchet” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A musical note one beat long in 4/4 time.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | crotchet |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈkɹɑt͡ʃ.ɪt/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “crotchet” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for crotchet is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɹɑt͡ʃ.ɪt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for crotchet, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English crochet, from Old French crochet (“small hook”), from croc + -et (diminutive suffix), from Old Norse krókr (“hook”). The musical note was named so because of a small hook on its stem in black notation (in modern notation this hook is on … The correct English form is crotchet, spelled C-R-O-T-C-H-E-T.
Definition
- 1A musical note one beat long in 4/4 time.
- 2A sharp curve or crook; a shape resembling a hook
- 3A hook-shaped instrument, especially as used in obstetric surgery.
- 4A whim or a fancy.
- 5A forked support; a crotch.
- 6An indentation in the glacis of the covered way, at a point where a traverse is placed.
- 7The arrangement of a body of troops, either forward or rearward, so as to form a line nearly perpendicular to the general line of battle.
- 8A square bracket.
Etymology
From Middle English crochet, from Old French crochet (“small hook”), from croc + -et (diminutive suffix), from Old Norse krókr (“hook”). The musical note was named so because of a small hook on its stem in black notation (in modern notation this hook is on the quaver/eighth note). Doublet of crochet, crocket, and croquet.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "crotchet"?
What does "crotchet" mean?
How do you pronounce "crotchet"?
What is the origin of the word "crotchet"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “crotchet”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-R-O-T-C-H-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈkɹɑt͡ʃ.ɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.