Definition of CRUFT

cruft

Noun

  • Anything that is old or of inferior quality.
  • Redundant, old or improperly written code, especially that which accumulates over time.
  • Meaningless or gratuitous content displayed on computer consoles in visual entertainment productions.

Verb

  • To generate cruft.

Origin / Etymology

Circa 1959, MIT Tech Model Railroad Club. Unknown origin; possibly from Cruft Hall, built in 1915 as a gift from a donor named Harriet Otis Cruft. Cruft Hall was the radar laboratory of Harvard's physics department during the Second World War, which contained much old and unused technical equipment. Possibly blend of crust + fluff, both of which may form on old abandoned things, or influenced by crud.

Synonyms

clutter

Scrabble Score: 10

cruft: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
cruft: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
cruft: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

cruft: valid Words With Friends Word