Cru*sade" (kr?-s?d"), n. [F.
croisade, fr. Pr. crozada, or Sp cruzada,
or It. crociata, from a verb signifying to take the
cross, mark one's self with a cross, fr. L. crux cross;
or possibly taken into English directly fr. Pr. Cf.
Croisade, Crosado, and see Cross.]
1. Any one of the military expeditions
undertaken by Christian powers, in the 11th, 12th, and 13th
centuries, for the recovery of the Holy Land from the
Mohammedans.
2. Any enterprise undertaken with zeal
and enthusiasm; as, a crusade against
intemperance.
3. A Portuguese coin. See
Crusado.
Cru*sade", v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Crusaded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Crusading.] To engage in a crusade; to attack in a
zealous or hot-headed manner. "Cease crusading
against sense." M. Green.