crowbait

American  

[kroh-beyt] / ˈkroʊˌbeɪt /

noun

Chiefly Northern, North Midland, and Western U.S.

1. an emaciated, worn-out horse or cow.

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Etymology

Origin of crowbait

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; crow ¹ + bait

Example Sentences

“You didn’t sell that old gray crowbait of yours, did you, Carl?”

From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck

Old crowbait is scored up and given the word.

From The Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56, No. 2, January 12, 1884 A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside by Various

"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."

From Fred Fenton on the Track or, The Athletes of Riverport School by Chapman, Allen

Waiting in the middle of a broad avenue of misshapen obelisks, a dilapidated barouche with a low body sagging the lower for debilitated springs, on either side its pole drooped two sorry specimens of crowbait.

From Alias the Lone Wolf by Vance, Louis Joseph

Andy curiously regarded the poor crowbait of a horse soon driven into view attached to a ramshackly wagon.

From Airship Andy or The Luck of a Brave Boy by Webster, Frank V.