English

gallicrow

From gally (“to frighten”) + crow.

A compound of gally ‘to frighten’ + crow

Proto-West Germanic *gallag

Old English gealliġ ‘sour, sharp, bitter, sad’

Middle English gally

English gally

Proto-Germanic *krēanądeverb.

Proto-Germanic *krēǭ

Proto-West Germanic *krāā

Old English crāwe

Middle English crowe

English crow

Today it means

noun A scarecrow.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / gallicrow