[f. CROW v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb CROW. 1. lit.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Pr. T., 34. Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge Than is a clokke.
1483. Cath. Angl., 83. A Crowynge of rauens, cra, vel crocitatus.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. i. 157. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke.
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, II. 196. The faint crowing of a cock was now heard.
2. transf. and fig.
1483. Caxton, Æsop, 133. Ouer moche talkyng letteth and to moche crowyng smarteth.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 34. Two years can hardly slip awai without sum crowing on the on part and more overcrowing on the other.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, Fate, Wks. (Bohn), II. 317. Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are.
