crow
UK[krəʊ]US[kroʊ]
n
A large, black bird with a loud, harsh call.
n
The loud, harsh cry of a rooster.
v
To make the loud, harsh cry of a rooster.
v
To express great pride or triumph, especially in a loud or boastful way.
Etymology
The word 'crow' originates from the Old English 'crāwe', which was the feminine form referring to the bird, related to the verb 'crāwan' meaning 'to crow'. These terms are of imitative origin, directly mimicking the bird's characteristic harsh cry. This onomatopoeic root is shared across other Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'krāen' and Middle Dutch 'crāen'. The verb's sense of 'expressing triumph boastfully' developed naturally from the rooster's cry, which is often associated with announcing victory at dawn.
Analysis
The word 'crow' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
A solitary crow sat on the bare branch, cawing loudly.
We were woken at dawn by the cock crowing on the farm.
He's been crowing about his promotion to everyone in the office.