Also 7 kaw. [Imitative.]
1. A representation of the cry of a rook or crow.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, V. ii. 95. Methinks I hear the Hateful noise of Rooks already—Kaw, Kaw, Kaw.
c. 1780. Cowper, Jackdaw, v. Church, army, physic, law … Is no concern at all of his, And says—what says he?—caw.
1797. G. Colman, Br. Grins, Maid of Moor, i. The hoarse crow croaked caw! caw! caw!
1874. Pusey, Lent. Serm., 138. A monotonous, caw-caw, repetition of the same lie.
2. sb. The cry or call of a rook, crow, raven, etc.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., 87. The dastard crow … With her loud kaws her craven kind does bring.
1820. Keats, Fancy, 45. Rooks, with busy caw, Foraging for sticks and straw.
1878. J. Buller, New Zeal., I. Introd. 17. The song of the lark, the caw of the rook.
