noun / verb
caw
KAW/kˈɔ/
The harsh cry of a crow or similar bird, or making this cry.
The crow opens its beak to caw.
Etymology
Caw imitates the harsh call itself rather than describing it through older roots. Similar imitative words occur in many languages for the cries or names of crow-like birds.
In context
like a flock of cawing jackdaws that fly a little way in tremendous haste, and then settle again at a distance and caw louder than before.
More examples
- The harsh caw carries across the field.
- Several ravens begin cawing in the tree.
- She recognizes the bird by its repeated caws.
Forms
caw · caws · cawed · cawing