Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - creek

n. 1 Brit. a a small bay or harbour on a sea-coast. b a narrow inlet on a sea-coast or in a river-bank. 2 esp. US a tributary of a river; a stream. 3 Austral. & NZ a stream or brook. Phrases and idioms up the creek sl. 1 in difficulties or trouble. 2 crazy. Etymology: ME crike f. ON kriki nook (or partly f. OF crique f. ON), & ME creke f. MDu. kreke (or f. crike by lengthening): ult. orig. unkn.