1. n.1 any large black bird of the genus Corvus, having a powerful black beak.
2 any similar bird of the family Corvidae, e.g. the raven, rook, and jackdaw.
3 sl. derog. a woman, esp. an old or ugly one.
Phrases and idioms:
as the crow flies in a straight line. crow-bill forceps for extracting bullets etc. crow's-foot (pl. -feet)
1. (usu. in pl.) a wrinkle at the outer corner of a person's eye.
2 Mil. a caltrop. crow's-nest a barrel or platform fixed at the masthead of a sailing vessel as a shelter for a lookout man. crow steps corbie-steps. crow-toe archaic or dial. any of various flowers, esp. the bluebell or buttercup. eat crow US submit to humiliation.
Etymology: OE crawe ult. f. WG 2. v. & n.
--v.intr.
1. (past crowed or crew) (of a cock) utter its characteristic loud cry.
2 (of a baby) utter happy cries.
3 (usu. foll. by over) express unrestrained gleeful satisfaction.
--n.
1. the cry of a cock.
2 a happy cry of a baby.
Etymology: OE crawan, of imit. orig.