# crow

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɹəʊ/ · frequency rank #9,590

## Definitions
1. A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles; it has a harsh, croaking call.
2. Any of various dark-coloured nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euploea.
3. A bar of iron with a beak, crook or claw; a bar of iron used as a lever; a crowbar.
4. Someone who keeps watch while their associates commit a crime; a lookout.
5. A gangplank (corvus) used by the Ancient Roman navy to board enemy ships.
6. The mesentery of an animal.
7. An ill-tempered and obstinate woman, or one who otherwise has features resembling the bird; a harpy.
8. A black person.
9. The emblem of an eagle, a sign of military rank.

## Etymology
From Middle English crowe, from Old English crāwe, from Proto-West Germanic *krāā, from Proto-Germanic *krēǭ (compare West Frisian krie, Dutch kraai, German Krähe), from *krēaną (“to crow”). See below.

## Easily confused with
- **CW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-cw)
- **cry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-cry)
- **CRT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crt)
- **CRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crs)
- **CTO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-cto)
- **cru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-cru)
- **Cruz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-cruz)
- **crux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crux)
- **crud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crud)
- **crowd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crowd)
- **crown** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crown)
- **crows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crows)
- **crowds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crowds)
- **crowns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crow-vs-crowns)
- **co** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/co-vs-crow)
- **CR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cr-vs-crow)
- **CEO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ceo-vs-crow)
- **cop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cop-vs-crow)
- **con** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/con-vs-crow)
- **cow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cow-vs-crow)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ccrow`, `corw`, `croww`, `crrow`, `crwo`, `rcow`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/crow