crèche

[kresh, kreysh; French kresh] /krɛʃ, kreɪʃ; French krɛʃ/
noun, plural crèches
[kresh-iz, krey-shiz; French kresh] /ˈkrɛʃ ɪz, ˈkreɪ ʃɪz; French krɛʃ/ (Show IPA)
1.
a small or large modeled representation or tableau of Mary, Joseph, and others around the crib of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem, as is displayed in homes or erected for exhibition in a community at Christmas season.
2.
a home for foundlings.
3.
British. a day-care center; day nursery.
4.
Animal Behavior. an assemblage of dependent young that are cared for communally.
Origin
1785-95; < French, Old French < Frankish *kripja crib
Examples from the web for crèche
  • The first displays to appear on the lawn included a menorah and a creche.
  • The creche is one of the traditional symbols of a national holiday.
British Dictionary definitions for crèche

crèche

/krɛʃ; kreɪʃ; French krɛʃ/
noun
1.
(mainly Brit)
  1. a day nursery for very young children
  2. a supervised play area provided for young children for short periods
2.
a tableau of Christ's Nativity
3.
a foundling home or hospital
Word Origin
C19: from Old French: manger, crib, ultimately of Germanic origin; compare Old High German kripja crib
Word Origin and History for crèche

creche

n.

"Christmas manger scene," 1792, from French crèche, from Old French cresche (13c.) "crib, manger, stall," ultimately from a Germanic source, cf. Old High German kripja, Old English cribb (see crib). Also "a public nursery for infants where they are cared for while their mothers are at work" (1854).