crib
UK[krɪb]US[krɪb]
n
A small bed with high sides for a baby or young child.
n
A model of the Nativity of Jesus, with a manger, figures, etc.
n
A translation or other illicit aid used by students, especially in an examination.
v
To copy (another person's work) illicitly or without acknowledgment.
Etymology
The word 'crib' originates from the Old English 'cribb', meaning a manger, stall, or fodder rack. This term is of Germanic descent, related to Old Saxon 'kribbia' and Old High German 'krippa'. The core concept is that of a container or enclosed space for holding fodder or, by extension, a child. The semantic journey from a feeding trough for animals to a baby's bed is a clear metaphorical extension based on the shared idea of a small, protective enclosure. The later, informal meanings related to cheating or using illicit aids derive from the idea of stealing the contents (i.e., answers) from a confined source.
Analysis
The word 'crib' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The baby slept soundly in her wooden crib.
Every Christmas, they set up a beautiful crib on the mantelpiece.
He was caught using a crib sheet during the final exam.