WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Crone (krn)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OD. kronie, karonie, an old sheep, OF. carogne, F. charogne, carrion (also F. carogne illnatured woman.). See Carrion, and Crony.]
Definition : 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913