scarecrow

[ skair-kroh ]

noun

1. an object, usually a figure of a person in old clothes, set up to frighten crows crow or other birds away from crops.
2. anything frightening but not really dangerous.
3. a person in ragged clothes.
4. an extremely thin person.

scarecrow

/ ˈskɛəˌkrəʊ /

noun

1. an object, usually in the shape of a man, made out of sticks and old clothes to scare birds away from crops
2. a person or thing that appears frightening but is not actually harmful
3. informal.
   1. an untidy-looking person
   2. a very thin person

Other Words From

• scarecrowish scarecrowy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarecrow¹

First recorded in 1545–55; scare + crow ¹

Related Words

• spectacle