1. One of the small wrinkles formed by age or anxiety round the outer corner of the eye, ‘thought to resemble the impression of the feet of crows’ (Todd). Now commonly in pl.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 354. So longe mot ye lyue and alle prowde, Till crowes feet ben growen vnder youre eye.
[1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Dec., 136. By myne eie the Crow his clawe dooth wright.]
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 55. When the black Crowes foote shall appeare in their eye.
1611. Florio, Crespatura … a wrinkling, a withering, as we say a Crowes-foote in a womans face.
1849. E. E. Napier, Excurs. S. Africa, II. 79. I begin already to see a few crows’ feet about the corner of my eyes.
1884. Rider Haggard, Dawn, xvii. The bloodshot eyes and the puckered crow’s-feet beneath them.
† 2. Naut. = CROW-FOOT 4. Obs.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., v. 19. Dead mens eyes are blocks … the Crowes-feet reeued thorow them are a many of small lines.
1806. Gregory, Dict. Arts & Sc., I. 459. Crow’s feet … scarcely of any other use than to make a shew of small rigging.
3. Mil. A caltrop; = CROWFOOT 6.
1772. Simes, Mil. Guide, Crows-feet, an iron of four points … used against cavalry.
1884. Daily News, 15 Sept., 5/3. One implement of war of which the British soldier is not proud … is the ‘crow’s-foot.’
4. A three-pointed figure in embroidery.
1879. Uniform Reg., in Navy List, July (1882), 497/1. Crow’s foot of round gold cord on sleeve.
5. Mech. (See quot.)
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., Crow’s-foot. 1. (Well-boring.) A bent hook adapted to engage the shoulder or collar on a drill-rod or well-tube while lowering it into a well or drilled shaft, or to hold the same while a section above it is being attached or detached.
Hence Crow’s-footed, crowsfooted ppl. a., marked with crow’s-feet round the eyes.
1831. T. L. Peacock, Crotchet Castle, i. Whose physiognomy … blighted, sallowed, and crow’s-footed.
1864. Sala, in Daily Tel., 26 Feb., 5/4. This dark face, strongly marked, livid and crowsfooted.
