Large wading birds with long legs and necks, or mechanical devices used for lifting and moving heavy objects. Both share the characteristic of having long, extended reaching capabilities.
From Old English cran, related to Greek geranos and Latin grus, all imitative of the bird's call. The mechanical meaning developed in medieval times due to the resemblance between the bird's long neck and the machine's extended arm.
The connection between birds and machines goes beyond appearance - both cranes are masters of leverage and balance. Ancient Greek myths associated cranes with vigilance and longevity, which is fitting since construction cranes are often the longest-standing structures on building sites.
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