crow
Pluralcrows
Pluralcrows
- 1A large black bird with a strong beak and a loud, harsh, croaking call.
A crow landed on the fence and cawed loudly.
We watched a crow pick at the bread crumbs in the yard.
UsageAs the crow flies means in a straight line.
Note
- 2To shout happily or boast loudly after winning or feeling proud.
Like cheering and showing off after you win a game.
The winners began to crow about their victory.
He crowed loudly after beating his brother at cards.
UsageSay crow about something. It sounds like too much boasting.
Similargloat, boast, brag, exult
Note
- 3To make the loud, high sound that a rooster makes, often early in the morning.
The rooster began to crow before the sun was up.
A rooster was crowing loudly outside the window.
UsageThe past tense is crowed: the rooster crowed.
Note
- 4
- 5A strong iron bar with a beak or claw, used to lift or pry things open.
Like a metal stick you push under something heavy to lift it.
He forced the crate open with an iron crow.
The workers used a crow to lift the heavy slab.
UsageMost people say crowbar.
Similarcrowbar
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Less common meanings
- 6
- 7Deep black, the color of a crow.
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- 8A person who watches for danger while others commit a crime.
“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 LifeHere, crow means a lookout who keeps watch while others commit a crime.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 RobberyHere, crow means a lookout who stands guard during a crime.Note
- 9A very offensive and racist word for a Black person.
UsageSay Black person instead.
Note
- 10A dark tropical butterfly, often black, brown or blue, with white spots on its wings.
- 11The eagle badge that shows a person's military rank.
- 12To test an oboe or bassoon reed by blowing on it alone, or for the reed to sound when blown.
- 13A hinged bridge with a spike that Roman warships dropped onto enemy ships so soldiers could cross.
- 14A butchers' name for the thin skin that holds an animal's guts in place inside its body.
Showing meanings only.
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Origins
The bird's name comes from Old English crāwe, an old Germanic word.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The bird's name derives from Old English crāwe. en.wiktionary.org
- Crāwe is a word of Germanic origin. en.wiktionary.org
The verb comes from Old English crāwan, meaning to make a bird's cry. The word imitates the sound.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The verb crow comes from Old English crāwan. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English crāwan meant to make a bird's cry. en.wiktionary.org
- The word has an imitative origin. en.wiktionary.org