A Nook and Cranny Are Two Different Things
A nook is a corner or recess. The phrase pairs it with a word that means a crack.
A nook is a corner or small recess, especially a sheltered and comfortable one. The phrase *every nook and cranny* pairs two words that are not synonyms: a nook is a corner you could sit in, while a cranny is a narrow crack you could barely get a finger into. The pairing covers both scales of hiding place, which is the whole point of the phrase. *Cranny* comes from French *cran*, a notch; *nook* is Middle English of uncertain origin, possibly Scandinavian.
- A corner or recess. *A cosy nook.*
- A breakfast nook. *A breakfast nook.*
- Cranny — a narrow crack. *A cranny.*
- Nooky — full of nooks. *Nooky.*
- Middle English — *nok*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | nook | A nook. |
| Plural | nooks | Nooks. |
| Compound | inglenook | An inglenook. |
| Related | cranny | A cranny. |
| French | cran | A notch. |
- She read in a sunny nook.Recess.
- Every nook and cranny.Phrase.
- A cranny is a crack.Distinction.
Paired words that are not synonyms
- Nook and cranny — a corner and a crack
- Kith and kin — acquaintances and relatives
- Odds and ends — leftovers of two kinds
- Hue and cry — a colour word once meaning shout, plus a shout
- These pairings are called binomials
Middle English *nok*, a corner, of uncertain origin, possibly Scandinavian.
What is the difference between a nook and a cranny?
A nook is a corner or recess you could sit in; a cranny is a narrow crack. The phrase covers both scales.
What is an inglenook?
A recess beside a fireplace, from ingle, a Scots and northern word for a hearth fire.