crutch n usu pron critch* [phonetics unavailable]. Cp OED ~ sb 4 'various contrivances of a forked shape in a ship or boat.' In hauling a cod-trap, a forked device fastened to side of boat to hold the 'head' of the net above water.
   T 43/7-64 You put a boat hook in a crutch in the side o' the skiff, and you hook the boat hook into the head of the trap. T 80/3-64 A critch is a stick cut out something like the gaff of a sail, and you stick one end down the risin's o' the boat and [on] the other end your boat hook'll lodge into un and keep up the offer end o' cod-bag. P 187-73 ~ a stick of wood about 3 ft long with a V-shaped piece of iron on top. It is used to suspend a gaff which keeps the heads of a cod-trap above the water level while it is being hauled.

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