The word "craw" refers to the crop of a bird or the stomach of an animal. Its pronunciation is \ˈkrȯ\, which is represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /kraw/. The "c" sound is pronounced as /k/, indicating a voiceless velar stop. The "r" sound is represented by the symbol /r/, indicating a voiced alveolar trill. Finally, the "aw" sound is represented by the symbol /ɔ/, indicating an open-mid back rounded vowel. In written language, the word "craw" follows English spelling convention in using the letter "c" to represent the /k/ sound.
The term "craw" refers to an anatomical structure found in certain animals, particularly birds and some mammals. It generally corresponds to the lower part of the esophagus or the first part of the stomach, where food is initially stored and partially digested before being further processed.
In avian species, the craw is a specialized enlargement of the esophagus located in the neck region. It serves as a temporary holding and fermentation chamber for food before it proceeds to the rest of the digestive system. The muscles surrounding the craw contract to mix and break down the ingested food, which is often swallowed whole or in large pieces.
The craw also plays a crucial role in the regurgitation of food for feeding their offspring and mates. Birds may store excess food in their craw and bring it back up to feed their young or share it with their partner through a process called "crop milk," which is a nutritious secretion produced within the craw.
In mammals like cows and other ruminants, the craw is known as the rumen. It forms the first part of the four-compartment stomach, and here, food is fermented and broken down by specialized microorganisms before moving to the other compartments for further digestion and absorption.
Overall, the craw is a significant anatomical structure for food processing and storage in certain animals, facilitating digestion and other processes associated with nutrition.
The crop of a bird.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The crop or first stomach of a bird or fowl.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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The word "craw" derives from Old English "crawe", which originally referred specifically to the stomach of a bird. It is believed to have originated from Germanic roots and is related to the Old High German word "krahha" and the Old Norse word "krākr", both of which also referred to a bird’s stomach. Over time, the meaning of "craw" expanded to include the crop or first stomach of birds, the gullet or throat, and eventually came to also denote the upper part of a person's abdomen.