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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Craw, v. Also: crawe, crau, craw; p.t. crew, creu; p.p. crawin, cravyn. [Northern ME. craw(e, crau (midl. and southern crowe, crow), early ME. crawen, OE. cráwan.]

1. intr. To crow, as a cock. a1400 Leg. S. i. 58.
Ilkane nycht as day cane daw, As he mycht heyre the cok craw Ib. v. 557.
Fra that the cok had cravyn thrise c1450-2 Howlat 202.
The cok in his cleir cape, that crawis and cryis, Was chosyn chauntour a1500 Henr. Fab. 243/21.
A ioly cok, … Deuidand nycht, crawand befoir the day c1500 Fyve Bestes 169–70.
Quhill he clapit durst thair no cok craw, Quhen he had clapit than crav thai all on raw 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 114.
Phebus crownyt byrd … Clapping his weyngis thrys had crawin cleir 1535 Stewart 36542.
It hes bene said. … The ȝoung cok leiris as the ald cok craw 1549 Compl. 39/8.
Quhilk gart the hennis kekkyl quhen the cokis creu a1605 Montg. Son. xii. 4.
Craks cannouns louder thoght a cok suld crau? 1587-99 Hume iii. 160.
The cock his courage shawes, … And twentie times he crawes

b. tr. To utter in crowing. a1500 Henr. Fab. 47/471, 472.
And suddandlie, be he had crawin ane note, The foxe wes war and hint him be the throte

2. fig. To exult, to boast. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 326.
I crew abone that craudone, as cok that wer wictour 1581 Sat. P. xliv. 149.
That skipper crous can crau, Sua that he knaw the iurnay to succeid