Crow (kr?), v. i. [imp. Crew (kr) or Crowed (krd); p. p. Crowed (Crown (kr?n), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Crowing.] [AS. crwan; akin to D. kraijen, G. krhen, cf. Lith. groti to croak. &root;24. Cf. Crake.] 1. To make the shrill sound characteristic of a cock, either in joy, gayety, or defiance. "The cock had crown."
Bayron.
The morning cock crew loud.
Shak.
2. To shout in exultation or defiance; to brag.
3. To utter a sound expressive of joy or pleasure.
The sweetest little maid,
That ever crowed for kisses.
Tennyson.
To crow over, to exult over a vanquished antagonist.
Sennacherib crowing over poor Jerusalem.
Bp. Hall.
© Webster 1913.
Crow, n. [AS. crwe a crow (in sense 1); akin to D. kraai, G. kre; cf. Icel. krka crow. So named from its cry, from AS. crwan to crow. See Crow, v. i. ]
1. Zool. A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles. It has a harsh, croaking note. See Caw.
⇒ The common crow of Europe, or carrion crow, is C. corone. The common American crow is C. Americanus. See Carrion crow, and Illustr., under Carrion.
2. A bar of iron with a beak, crook, or claw; a bar of iron used as a lever; a crowbar.
Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight
Unto my cell.
Shak.
3. The cry of the cock. See Crow, v. i., 1.
4. The mesentery of a beast; -- so called by butchers.
Carrion crow. See under Carrion. -- Crow blackbird Zool., an American bird (Quiscalus quiscula); -- called also purple grackle. -- Crow pheasant Zool., an Indian cuckoo; the common coucal. It is believed by the natives to give omens. See Coucal. -- Crow shrike Zool., any bird of the genera Gymnorhina, Craticus, or Strepera, mostly from Australia. -- Red-legged crow. See Crough. -- As the crow flies, in a direct line. -- To pick a crow, To pluck a crow, to state and adjust a difference or grievance (with any one).
© Webster 1913. | 
