Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRAN'NY, n. [Fr. cran; Arm. cran, a notch; L. crena; from the root of rend, Sax. hrendan, or rendan; Arm. ranna, to split; crenna, to cut off; W. rhanu, to divide; rhan, a piece; Ir. roinnim, or ruinnim, to divide; Gr. κρινω; L. cerno. See Class Rn, No. 4, 13, 16.]

1. Properly, a rent; but commonly, any small narrow opening, fissure, crevice or chink, as in a wall, or other substance. In a firm building, the cavities ought to be filled with brick or stone, fitted to the crannies. – Dryden.
2. A hole; a secret retired place. He peeped into every cranny. – Arbuthnot.
3. In glass-making, an iron instrument for forming the necks of glasses. – Encyc.