crow's-foot

American  

[krohz-foot] / ˈkroʊzˌfʊt /

noun

• crow's-feet
  plural

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.

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crow's-foot British  

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• crow's-feet
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crow's-foot

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crow's-foot crow's-feet

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

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

On the cricket pitch, a bare hundred yards away from the river bank, is a plentiful crop of dandelions, crow's-foot, clover, and, worst of all, enormous plantains.

From A Cotswold Village by J. Arthur Gibbs

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 Harper's Round Table, June 25, 1895 by Various

Then a crow's-foot, or tripod of iron, tapped and threaded for iron pipe, is screwed to the terminal block.

From Electricity for the farm Light, heat and power by inexpensive methods from the water wheel or farm engine by Frederick Irving Anderson

You pick your way daintily along the edge of the road, for it is carpeted so thickly with sea-pinks and yellow and crimson crow’s-foot that you scarcely know where to step.

From Ladies-In-Waiting by Christine Tucke Curtiss

Yet, as the contest stressed empathy, confidence and authenticity as feminine ideals, the mentions of “young woman” remained in place, and with it, the ban on crow’s-feet.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2024

Pushing 70, her skin is buttery smooth, her crow’s-feet but a hint.

From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 2016

The candidate smiled patiently, crinkling the crow's-feet around his eyes.

From Time ● May 19, 2011

And Reichen, who is so gorgeous even his encroaching crow's-feet are perfectly placed, seems like one of those guys who forgets he is beautiful and desired by everyone all the time.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2010

There is a crease between his eyebrows and crow’s-feet around his eyes as he squints at the TV screen.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day