Etymology From Middle English crowe, from Old English crāwe, from Proto-West Germanic *krāā, from Proto-Germanic *krēǭ (compare West Frisian krie, Dutch kraai, German Krähe), from *krēaną (“to crow”). See below.
A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles; it has a harsh, croaking call.
Gaslark in his splendour on the golden stairs saying adieu to those three captains and their matchless armament foredoomed to dogs and crows on Salapanta Hills.1922, E.R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroborus:
2
Any of various dark-coloured nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euploea.
3
A bar of iron with a beak, crook or claw; a bar of iron used as a lever; a crowbar.
He approached the humble tomb in which Antonia reposed. He had provided himself with an iron crow and a pick-axe: but this precaution was unnecessary.1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society, published 1985, page 267:
Watt might have broken the door down, with an axe, or a crow, or a small charge of explosive, but this might have aroused Erskine's suspicions, and Watt did not want that.1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
4
Archaic, Slang Someone who keeps watch while their associates commit a crime; a lookout.
“Ay,” put in a young man, who had the reputation of being the smartest “crow” in London—“‘fishers of men,’ as the parson says.”1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of his Natural Life, Penguin, published 2009, page 53:
By nine o'clock on the evening of November 12, 1854, Pierce had his confederates in their places. The crow, Agar's woman, lounged across the street from the Trent mansion.1975, Michael Crichton, The Great Train Robbery:
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Historical A gangplank (corvus) used by the Ancient Roman navy to board enemy ships.
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The mesentery of an animal.
7
Derogatory An ill-tempered and obstinate woman, or one who otherwise has features resembling the bird; a harpy.
But it helps a man along to have a wife he can be proud of. Suppose you marry some old crow. People point at her and ask, 'Who is that death's head yonder?'1899, George Horton, A Fair Brigand, H.S. Stone, page 242:
(Mrs. Meany to Woody, from a window) "I don't care! I'm not running a pet shop." "Well it looks like one with an old crow in the window!"1970, Paul J. Smith, 0:13 from the start, in Woody Woodpecker: "Seal on the Loose", spoken by Woody Woodpecker (Grace Stafford):
A young petty officer that must have just received his “crow” (a single chevron, with an eagle over it) was showing off to several seamen.2002, Ed Goodrich, Riggers that Dive, page 46:
The young man had been threatened with loss of his third class rank, his “crow,” the eagle in a petty officer's sleeve insignia.2003, Jonathan T. Malay, Seraphim Sky, page 106:
Etymology From Middle English crowe, from Old English crāwe, from Proto-West Germanic *krāā, from Proto-Germanic *krēǭ (compare West Frisian krie, Dutch kraai, German Krähe), from *krēaną (“to crow”). See below.
1
Uncommon Dark black, the color of a crow; crow-black.
"Though her crow hair is lovely and wavy, she loathes it and craves yellow locks. Since she saw Hugh, she's given me no peace.” Sheffield's square , good-looking face shaped a grimace.1945, George Marsh, Ask No Quarter, New York, W. Morrow & Company:
[…] only her crow hair could be seen. Her appearance could not be seen as she anxiously called out, "Mother ..." The setting sun cast a dim yellow light on the interior of the house. The woman lay on her back and looked up at the beams overhead[…]2019 December 6, Shi Shuifeiyan, Escaped Consort: Hubby, Don’t Chase Me: Volume 3, Funstory, →ISBN:
Etymology The verb is from Middle English crowen, from Old English crāwan (past tense crēow, past participle crāwen), from Proto-West Germanic *krāan, from Proto-Germanic *krēaną, from imitative Proto-Indo-European *gerH- (“to cry hoarsely”). The noun is from Middle English crowe, from the verb. Compare Dutch kraaien, German krähen, Lithuanian gróti, Russian гра́ять (grájatʹ)). Related to croak.
1
To make the shrill sound characteristic of a rooster; to make a sound in this manner, either in gaiety, joy, pleasure, or defiance.
Yet once me thought it [the ghost of Hamlet's father] was about to ſpeake, / And lifted vp his head to motion, / Like as he would ſpeake, but euen the / The morning cocke crew lowd, and in all haſte / It ſhrunke in haſte away, and vaniſhed / Our ſight.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
This is the Cock that crowed in the Morn[.]1784, The House that Jack Built, page 8:
4 more examples
'You are that Psyche' Cyril said again / 'The mother of the sweetest little maid, / That ever crow'd for kisses.'1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part II”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 37:
The child was at this time about ten months old, and was a strong, hearty, happy infant, always laughing when he was awake and always sleeping when he did not laugh, because his little limbs were free from pain and his little stomach was not annoyed by internal troubles. He kicked, and crowed, and sputtered, when his mother took him, and put up his little fingers to clutch her hair, and was to her as a young god upon the earth. Nothing in the world had ever been created so beautiful, so joyous, so satisfactory, so divine!1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Lady Milborough as Ambassador”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, […], →OCLC, page 87:
Hearing the miner's footsteps, the baby would put up his arms and crow.1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter III, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC, part I, page 48:
When your rooster crows at the break o' dawn / Look out your window and I'll be gone.1962, Bob Dylan, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”, in The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan:
2
To shout in exultation or defiance; to brag.
He’s been crowing all day about winning the game of cards.
Touting its sponsorship of local engineering and sustainability programs, Amazon crows about such “investments” as its dog park, playing fields, art installations, and Buckyball-reminiscent domical gardens.2017 September 27, Julianne Tveten, “Zucktown, USA”, in The Baffler:
1 more example
Another of my favorite dishes, the Asian chicken salad, was inspired by a skit by comedian Margaret Cho (“This is not the salad of my people…” she crows).2023 October 7, Ajesh Patalay, quoting Margaret Cho, “The Naked Chef 2.0”, in HTSI, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 77:
3
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music To test the reed of a double reed instrument by placing the reed alone in the mouth and blowing it.
Etymology From French gens de corbeaux, calque of Dakota apsáaloke (“crow people”). Compare Crow Apsáalooke.
1
A member of a Native American tribe of southern Montana.
crow
noun
Etymology The verb is from Middle English crowen, from Old English crāwan (past tense crēow, past participle crāwen), from Proto-West Germanic *krāan, from Proto-Germanic *krēaną, from imitative Proto-Indo-European *gerH- (“to cry hoarsely”). The noun is from Middle English crowe, from the verb. Compare Dutch kraaien, German krähen, Lithuanian gróti, Russian гра́ять (grájatʹ)). Related to croak.
1
The cry or call of a rooster or a cockerel, especially as heard at sunrise.