COMMENTS:Trask (1995), following Corominas & Pascual, derives this word from Lat. crocea 'saffron-colored' (!). Agud & Tovar mention another fantastic derivation (Griera) from culotz 'the points that lie on burning coal piles'. Cf. instead PEC *ḳ[u]rč̣V ~ *ḳ[u]rć̣V, with the simple semantic equation of 'dung' = 'dung'.
