Crutched Friars

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 3: Catarrh to Dion, p. 597

Crutched Friars, an order of friars, carrying in their hand a staff, on the top of which was a cross, received the name of Croisiers (Fr. croix, 'cross'), corrupted into Crouched or Crutched

Friars. They came to England in the 13th century, and had monasteries in London (which still gives name to a street), Oxford, and Reigate.

Source scan(s): p. 0608