# crow

Pronunciation: say "KROH" US /kɹoʊ/, UK /kɹəʊ/

## Noun

1. A usually black bird of the genus Corvus, with a strong conical beak edged with bristles and a harsh, croaking call.
   - Simple: A large black bird with a strong beak and a loud, harsh, croaking call.
   - _A crow perched on the telephone wire, watching the field below._
   - _Crows often gather in large, noisy flocks at dusk._
4. A rooster's or cockerel's call, especially the one it gives at daybreak.
   - Simple: The loud morning call of a rooster.
   - _The first crow of the cockerel signaled that morning had come._
   - _A rooster's crow carried clearly across the frosty fields._
5. An iron bar ending in a beak, crook, or claw, used for prying or levering; a crowbar.
   - Simple: A strong iron bar with a beak or claw, used to lift or pry things open.
   - _She wedged the crow beneath the boulder and threw her weight against it._
   - _A blacksmith could forge a crow strong enough to pry apart nailed timbers._
6. A derogatory term for an ill-tempered, obstinate woman, especially one thought to resemble the bird; a harpy.
   - Simple: An unkind word for a bad-tempered, stubborn woman.
   - _Neighbors whispered that the old crow upstairs complained about every noise._
   - _He dismissed his critic as a bitter old crow._
9. An extremely offensive racial slur for a Black person. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A very offensive and racist word for a Black person.

## Verb

2. To shout in triumph or defiance; to boast.
   - Simple: To shout happily or boast loudly after winning or feeling proud.
   - _Rival fans crow whenever the home team loses._
   - _She crowed in triumph as the last piece fell into place._
3. To make the shrill sound characteristic of a rooster, whether in gaiety, joy, pleasure, or defiance.
   - Simple: To make the loud, high sound that a rooster makes, often early in the morning.
   - _Roosters crow at first light all across the valley._
   - _The old cock crowed from the top of the fence._

## Adjective

7. Of a dark black color, like that of a crow's feathers; crow-black. *(rare)*
   - Simple: Deep black, the color of a crow.

## Noun

8. A lookout who stands guard while accomplices carry out a crime. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A person who watches for danger while others commit a crime.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A butterfly of the genus Euploea, one of a group of dark-colored nymphalids.
- (noun) An eagle emblem worn as a sign of military rank.
- (verb) To blow a double reed on its own, without the instrument, to test it; of the reed, to give a sound when blown this way.
- (noun) A boarding bridge used by the ancient Roman navy to grapple and board enemy ships.
- (noun) In butchers' usage, the mesentery: the membrane that attaches an animal's intestines to the wall of the abdomen.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 5–9** — The name of the bird comes from Middle English crowe, from Old English crāwe, from Proto-Germanic *krēǭ (related to Dutch kraai and German Krähe), based on a root meaning "to crow."
**Meanings 2–4** — The verb comes from Middle English crowen, from Old English crāwan, from Proto-Germanic *krēaną, perhaps ultimately from an imitative root meaning "to cry hoarsely." The noun comes from the verb, and the word is related to croak.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/crow (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).