ˈcrow-bill
† 1. A plant. Obs.
| 14.. Gl. Sloane 5 in Sax. Leechd. III. 320/2 Crowe pil, acus muscata minor. 1847–78 Halliwell, Crouwepil, the herb crane-bill. |
2. Surg. (Also crow's bill.) A forceps for extracting bullets or other foreign bodies from wounds.
| 1611 Cotgr., Bec de corbin..a Chirurgions toole, called a Crowes-bill. 1634 T. Johnson Parey's Chirurg. 440 Plucke it out with your crane or crowes bill. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 400/2 Another Instrument of a Chyrurgion, termed a Crow-Bill. 1880 Browning Dram. Idylls, Pietro, But who wields the crozier down may fling the crow-bill. |