Crow, n. [AS. crāwe a crow (in sense 1); akin to D. kraai, G. krähe; cf. Icel. krāka crow. So named from its cry, from AS. crāwan to crow. See Crow, v. i.]
1. (Zoöl.) 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(Zoöl.), an American bird (Quiscalus quiscula); — called also purple grackle. — Crow pheasant(Zoöl.), an Indian cuckoo; the common coucal. It is believed by the natives to give omens. See Coucal. — Crow shrike(Zoöl.), 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).