white crane

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see white, crane.

Similar
whitecraneWhite-cranewhite cranewhite crane style
OriginChinese 白鶴派 /白鹤派 ← Cantonese 白鶴派 /白鹤派 ← Hokkien 白鶴派 /白鹤派 →
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Meanings

white crane1

nounwhite crane (countable and uncountable, plural white cranes)

plural white cranes

  1. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablegovernmentEllipsis of white crane style.
  2. countableuncountableUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see white, crane.

White Crane2

proper noun
  1. A style of Chinese martial arts
    1. abbreviationellipsisgovernmentEllipsis of Tibetan White Crane, a style of kung fu popularized across the world from its popularity in Cantonese media, adopted in Southern China as a native style, after being introduced from Western China.
    2. abbreviationellipsisgovernmentEllipsis of Fujian White Crane.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
white cranewhite crane style

Origin

  1. Hokkien白鶴派 /白鹤派“white crane style”
  2. Cantonese白鶴派 /白鹤派“white crane style”
  3. Chinese白鶴派 /白鹤派“white crane style”
  4. EnglishWhite Crane

From white + crane. Calque of Chinese 白鶴派 /白鹤派 (“white crane style”) * (Tibetan White Crane): From Cantonese 白鶴派 /白鹤派 (“white crane style”), from 西藏白鶴拳 /西藏白鹤拳 (“Tibetan white crane boxing”) * (Fujian White Crane): From Hokkien 白鶴派 /白鹤派 (“white crane style”)

More words from Chinese, Cantonese, Hokkien

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

white crane. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/white%20crane

MLA

“white crane.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/white%20crane. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “white crane,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/white%20crane.

Source: white crane on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.