crow
/kroʊ/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*krēwōn — crow (imitative of the bird's call)
Overview
Meaning Now
- A large, intelligent perching bird of the genus Corvus, typically having glossy black plumage and a harsh, raucous call.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
crāwe
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the bird's characteristic call. In various cultures, crows have been symbols of both wisdom and death, often appearing in folklore as messengers or tricksters.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*ger-
“to cry out or make a noise”
Imitative root referring to vocalization.
- Proto-Germanic
*krēwōn
“crow”
- Old English
crāwe
“crow”
- Middle English
crowe
“crow”
- Modern English
crow
“crow”
Connections
Word parts
crow
root
the bird itself
Related across languages
Old High German
krāwa
crow
Old Norse
kráka
crow
Explore next
Related to crow
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.