I'm bvacationing/b in exotic Nebraska City, Nebraska (birthplace of J. Sterling Morton) and this puzzle was a perfect way to start the day. Hard enough to make me stop and think several times, but easy enough to finish in one sitting. b....../b 1879) suggested its identification with Old French cravante, crevanti crushed, overcome: see bCravent/b v. But the total abscence of the final e from the word, at a date when English still retained final e, makes a difficulty. ...