"bearing a cross," 1650s, from Late Latin crucifer "cross-bearing," from Latin crux (genitive crucis) "stake, cross" (see crux). Originally in literal senses; botanical use (in reference to a symmetrical arrangement of four petals) is from 1851.
crozier
cru
crucial
cruciate
crucible
cruciferous
crucifix
crucifixion
cruciform
crucify
cruciverbalist