Hypertext Webster Gateway: "crone"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Crone \Crone\ (kr?n), n. [OD. kronie, karonie, an old sheep, OF.
carogne, F. charogne, carrion (also F. carogne illnatured
woman.). See {Carrion}, and {Crony}.]
1. An old ewe. [Obs.] --Tusser.
2. An old woman; -- usually in contempt.
But still the crone was constant to her note.
--Dryden.
3. An old man; especially, a man who talks and acts like an
old woman. [R.]
The old crone [a negro man] lived in a hovel, . . .
which his master had given him. --W. Irving.
A few old battered crones of office. --Beaconsfield.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
crone
n : an ugly evil-looking old woman [syn: {hag}, {beldam}, {beldame},
{witch}]
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