Crevice
/ˈkrɛv.ɪs/noun
A narrow opening or crack, especially in rock or a wall.
Did you know?Crevice is believed to come from a Vulgar Latin form related to Latin crepare, meaning “to crack, rattle, or burst,” so the word’s history is literally built on the sound of things breaking.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*krep-
“to crack, make a noise, or break with a sharp sound”
Latin
Latin
crepare
“to crack, rattle, or burst noisily”
Vulgar Latin
VL
*crepicea / *crevicea
“a crack or fissure”
Old French
OF
crevace
“a crack, chasm, or split”
Middle English
English
crevice
“a crack or narrow opening”
Modern English
English
crevice
“a narrow opening or fissure”