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crowbait

An old American term for a horse so worn out, bony, and useless that it looks fit only to be left out for the crows to pick at.

ˈkɹaʊˌbeɪt164 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

An old American term for a horse so worn out, bony, and useless that it looks fit only to be left out for the crows to pick at. By extension, it can describe anything — or anyone — who is run-down, exhausted, and past their prime. Cowboys and ranchers used this as a blunt assessment of a horse with no resale value or working life left. Today it occasionally surfaces as a colorful, slightly affectionate insult for a person who looks rough around the edges.

That old crowbait could barely make it to the water trough without stopping to rest.
Origin: American frontier slang, in use from at least the mid-1800s. The imagery is literal: a dying or dead horse left in a field would attract crows and other scavengers. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(US, often, attributive) An old, emaciated horse.

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