crow's-foot

[ krohz-foot ]

noun

, plural crow's-feet.

1. Usually crow's-feet. any of the tiny wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes resulting from age or constant squinting.
2. Aeronautics. an arrangement of ropes in which one main rope exerts pull at several points simultaneously through a group of smaller ropes, as in balloon or airship rigging.
3. (in tailoring) a three-pointed embroidered design used as a finish, as at the end of a seam or opening.
4. crowfoot ( def 1 ).

crow's-foot

noun

1. often plural a wrinkle at the outer corner of the eye
2. an embroidery stitch with three points, used esp as a finishing at the end of a seam
3. a system of diverging short ropes to distribute the pull of a single rope, used esp in balloon and airship riggings

Word History and Origins

Origin of crow's-foot¹

1350–1400; Middle English; so called because likened to a crow's foot or footprint

Example Sentences

Annabeth ran her hand along some marks on the ground - a jagged crow’s-foot shape as long as a human body.

From Literature

Meanwhile, they who act with too jealous respect for their morrow of civilized comfort, reap only indigestion, and crow's-foot traceries for their deluded eye-corners.

From Project Gutenberg

But saddest to see was between two bars, where a fog was of rushes, and flood wood, and wild celery, and dead crow's-foot.

From Project Gutenberg

Trefoil, crow's-foot, clover, mallow, and wild mustard riot, tangling and interweaving.

From Project Gutenberg

There is the crow's-foot violet, which grows in dry places and is a deep purple; also a little purple violet whose name I do not know.

From Project Gutenberg