scarecrow
scarecrow Lexical Profile
scarecrow Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An object, typically made to resemble a human figure dressed in old clothes, set up in a field to frighten birds away from seeds or crops.
"The farmer stuffed old overalls with straw to build a scarecrow for the cornfield."
A person who is exceptionally thin, gaunt, or dressed in ragged clothing.
"After weeks of trekking through the harsh wilderness with minimal supplies, the lost hiker emerged looking like a scarecrow."
Something that is frightening but essentially harmless; a cause of false alarm or an unfounded threat.
"The predicted economic collapse turned out to be a mere scarecrow used by politicians to garner votes."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the 1550s, formed as a compound of the verb 'scare' and the noun 'crow', directly describing its primary agricultural function.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.