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, London Labour and the London 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 Magazine, 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. 3. 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. SHAKESPEARE, Comedy of Errors, iii. 1. If a crow help us in, sirrah, we’ll PLUCK A CROW TOGETHER.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART, Works, V., 302]. So I coulde PLUCKE A CROWE WYTH Poet Martiall for calling it putre halec.
1859. HOWELL, English Proverbs, 2. I have a GOOSE TO PLUCK WITH YOU; viz. I have something to complain of.
1864. BUTLER, Hudibras, pt. II., canto 2, 499.
| If not, resolve before we go, | |
| That YOU AND I MUST PULL A CROW. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. TO PLUCK A CROW; to reprove any one for a fault committed, to settle a dispute.
1819. SCOTT, The 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.
