What does crosse mean?
A crosse is the distinctive stick used in lacrosse: a long shaft ending in a shallow pocket of loose netting that players use to catch, carry, and throw the ball. The word entered English from Canadian French, where it originally meant any hooked or crooked staff — the same root behind the bishop's crosier. Early European observers of Indigenous North American ball games likened the playing stick to such a crook, which is why the sport itself took the name "lacrosse." In modern usage the word appears almost exclusively in sporting contexts, whether describing equipment regulations, a player's technique, or the craftsmanship of traditional wooden sticks versus contemporary synthetic models. Because it is a specialized term, its meaning is rarely ambiguous, but its spelling is easily mistaken for the unrelated word "cross." Knowing the term is essential for anyone following or writing about lacrosse at any level of the game.
nounA long-handled stick with a netted pocket at one end, used to catch, carry, and throw the ball in lacrosse.
- The netted stick used to play lacrosse.
"She cradled the ball in her crosse as she dodged past the defender."
"She scooped up the ground ball with her crosse and sprinted downfield."
"Modern crosses are made of lightweight composite materials rather than wood."
In lacrosse writing, the plural frequently remains "crosse" by analogy with other sporting terms, but "crosses" is standard outside technical usage.
"All players' crosses were checked for legal pocket depth before the game."
The lacrosse stick keeps its French name because the game itself came to English from French-speaking Canadians, who thought the netted stick looked like a bishop's crozier.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crosse
The word "crosse" comes from Canadian French "crosse", meaning a hooked staff or crook, ultimately related to medieval Latin "crux" (cross). When French-speaking settlers in Canada observed Indigenous stick-and-ball games in the 17th century, they called the game "la crosse" after the resemblance of the playing stick to a bishop's crozier. English borrowed both the game's name and, later, the name of the stick itself.
How crosse is actually used
Almost always used in the context of lacrosse. The plural is often rendered "crosse" unchanged in sporting usage, though "crosses" also appears.
Easily confused with crosse
"Cross" is a general word for a shape, mark, or hybrid, while "crosse" specifically denotes the netted stick used in lacrosse.