Definition
A network of fine, hairline cracks that forms in the surface of transparent plastic materials such as acrylic windshields, canopies, and side windows. Crazing is caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight, solvents, cleaning chemicals, or internal stresses in the plastic, and it progressively reduces the optical clarity of the panel.
Plain English
A pattern of tiny surface cracks that develops in clear plastic windows over time, making them look cloudy or webbed.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, preflight inspection, and discussions of window, windshield, or paint condition.
Derivation
From the Old English 'crasen', meaning to shatter or break. The same root gives us 'crazy', originally meaning cracked or flawed. The word kept its original sense in materials work, where a 'crazed' surface is one covered in fine cracks.
Why Pilots Care
A craze reduces visibility through the window and can eventually weaken the structure enough to require replacement before flight.
Intuition Check
Craze does not mean “become wildly excited” here. In aircraft maintenance, it means a surface has developed many small crack lines.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight, the pilot noted heavy crazing on the left side window and wrote it up for maintenance review.
Example Sentence 2
The canopy was replaced after the craze spread and began to affect forward visibility.