crow
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Someone who keeps watch while their associates commit a crime; a lookout.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“Ay,” put in a young man, who had the reputation of being the smartest “crow” in London—“‘fishers of men,’ as the parson says.”
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “crow” mean?
Someone who keeps watch while their associates commit a crime; a lookout.
Is “crow” formal or informal?
crow is generally archaic, slang.