Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun US, figuratively An old, emaciated
horse
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an emaciated horse likely soon to become carrion and so attractive to crows
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Judicial Circuit of Illinois, either on the back of a raw-boned horse, or in a rickety buggy drawn by the same old "crowbait," as his legal friends called the animal.
The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln Wayne Whipple 1899
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Cancellation of the project would therefore be such a massive betrayal that resignations of senior naval officers would surely be inevitable - what an abysmal start that would be for a new government. crowbait
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The dangers are that Brown gives him another hammering on PMQs and the electorate begins to feel he's nothing special and 'better the devil you know' ... crowbait
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Optimal by C. Bid on Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 at 1: 26: 26 PM crowbait by Mikael Rudolph on Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 at 1: 43: 41 PM
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Bid ... crowbait by Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 at 3: 51: 14 PM
Fighting Among Us, Will Not Defeat The Hun! As to The Flood... 2007
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"Why, years ago he had the same old crowbait of a horse, and the boys mocked him when he'd keep using the whip, and telling the beast to get along."
Fred Fenton on the Track or, The Athletes of Riverport School Allen Chapman
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It was apparent that the whole outfit was in the racing business, and as the crowd looked at the discrepancy between the two horses, and observed that on the best-looking horse was a professional jockey, while on the crowbait was only a girl, something like a groan went up.
Ted Strong's Motor Car Edward C. Taylor
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[FOOTNOTE 87: spavined crowbait -- a lame, emaciated horse (from spavin, an inflammation of the tarsal or ankle joint of a horse, causing lameness, and an appearance that causes carrion birds to think a meal is in the offing)] "A very sad --" began Judge Menefee, but his remark was curtailed by a higher authority.
Heart of the West [Annotated] O. Henry 1886
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"Right there is where my lode of information turns to an old spavined crowbait [87], and folds its wings, for I've pumped it dry."
Heart of the West [Annotated] O. Henry 1886
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Indians (Bedouins) with very long spears in their hands, cavorting around on old crowbait horses, and spearing imaginary enemies; whooping, and fluttering their rags in the wind, and carrying on in every respect like
The Innocents Abroad Mark Twain 1872
taciturnyetprolix commented on the word crowbait
So jailbait isn't the only word that has -bait as a suffix.
August 10, 2008
she commented on the word crowbait
This word makes me sad. :<
(Oh oh, and: bankbait, bearbait, bullbait, cadbait, clambait, clapbait, codbait, redbait, sharkbait, spoonbait, strawbait, whitebait..)
August 10, 2008
taciturnyetprolix commented on the word crowbait
Thanks for the list. I now remember reading the words bearbait and bullbait in a book about dogs, and all the awful things they were forced to do in Tudor/Victorian England.
August 10, 2008
bilby commented on the word crowbait
Wot, no -bait list?
November 28, 2008