crone \crone\ (kr[=o]n), n. [OD. kronie, karonie, an old sheep, OF. carogne, F. charogne, carrion (also F. carogne ill-natured woman.). See Carrion, and Crony.]

1. An old ewe. [Obs.]

--Tusser. [1913 Webster]

2. An old woman; -- usually in contempt. [1913 Webster]

But still the crone was constant to her note. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. An old man; especially, a man who talks and acts like an old woman. [R.]

[1913 Webster]

The old crone [a negro man] lived in a hovel, . . . which his master had given him. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]

A few old battered crones of office. --Beaconsfield. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

25 Moby Thesaurus words for "crone": bag, bat, beldam, biddy, dame, dowager, drab, frump, grandam, grandmother, granny, hag, old battle-ax, old dame, old girl, old granny, old lady, old trot, old wife, old woman, slattern, sloven, trot, war-horse, witch

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

crone

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)