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Crow, subs. (thieves').—1. A confederate on watch whilst another steals. Generally a man, but occasionally a woman acts as a crow; the latter is also called a canary (q.v., subs., sense 4).
1851-61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 286. One keeps a lookout to see there is no person near to detect them. This person is termed a 'crow.' If anyone should be near, the 'crow' gives a signal, and then decamps.
1862. Cornhill Mag., VI., 648. Occasionally they [women] assist at a burglary . . . remaining outside and keeping watch; they are then called crows.
1889. Answers, 18 May, p. 390, col. 2. A crow (confederate) is next planted outside, or in an upper window, if there be one, to give notice, by means of signals or a cord reaching to the workers, of the approach of a peeler or chance passer-by.
2. (common).—A piece of unexpected luck; a 'fluke'; generally 'a regular crow.' [Originally billiards' in which it = a hazard not played for, i.e., a 'fluke': no doubt a corruption of the Fr. raccroc.] A French equivalent is mettre dans le mille.
To eat crow.—See Broiled crow.
A crow to pluck, to pull, or to pick with one, phr. (colloquial). Something demanding explanation: a misunderstanding to clear; a disagreeable matter to settle. Sometimes, a bone to pick, etc.
1593. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors, iii., 1. If a crow help us in, sirrah, we'll pluck a crow together.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 302. So I coulde plucke a crowe wyth Poet Martiall for calling it putre halec.
1659. Howell, Proverbs. I have a goose to pluck with you.
1664. Butler, Hudibras, pt, II., 2. If not, resolve before we go, That you and I must pull a crow.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. To pluck a crow: To reprove anyone for a fault committed; to settle a dispute.
1819. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor, ch. xv. If these Ravenswood cases be called over the coals in the House of Peers, you will find that the Marquis will have a crow to pluck with you.
Crowd, subs. (old).—A fiddle.
Crowder, subs. (theatrical).—1. A large audience.
1883. Referee, 18 March, p. 3, col. 2. If the proprietors want, in the way of audiences, to be able to boast of crowders, they should take care to avoid giving pain.
2. (old).—A fiddler.
Crow-Eater, subs. (colonial).—A lazybones who prefers subsisting upon what he can pick up, as the crows do, to putting himself to the trouble of working for it. For synonyms, see Loafer.
Crow-Fair, subs. (old).—A gathering of clergymen.
Crown, verb (thieves').—To inspect a window with a view to operations.
Crown and Feathers, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Crowner, subs. (old colloquial).—A coroner. [A corruption of 'coroner.']
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act v., Sc. 1. Sec. Cl. The crowner hath sat on her, and finds it Christian burial.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 220. And if any drowne themselues in them, their crowners sit vpon them.
1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. ii. You'll be to Connecticut afore they can wake up the crowner and summon a jury.
