Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a crowbar.

1695		Proc. Old Bailey 8 May n.p.: The Deceased told him, if he would not go, he would stick an Iron-Crow into his Body, and holding up the same, and the Prisoner struck him with the Leaver, and he fell down.
1699		N. Ward London Spy V 112: The excellent use of Jack and Crow; for the silent drawing of Bolts and forcing Barricadoes.
1705–07		N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus II:9 7: So Ruffians, who, with Crows and Betties, / Break Houses, when it dark and late is.
1710		Proc. Old Bailey 6 Sept. n.p.: The other dragged him out of his Room, assaulting him after a very Violent manner and with an Iron Crow, broke his Scull in divers places, so that his Life is dispaired of.
1714		A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 138: These Persons [...] supported the Stone with Iron Crows.
1717		Proc. Old Bailey 6 June 1/1: King swore G - d d - n him, if be offer'd to touch him, he would beat his Brains out, and struck him with an Iron Crow, wounding him and knocking him dow.
1768		Foote Devil Upon Two Sticks in Works (1799) II 247: Fetch the mattock and crow!
1777		J. Fielding Thieving Detected 10: A crow soon forces them open.
1808		Proc. Old Bailey 30 Nov. 33/1: A. he one below answered, then hand me down the jemmy. Q. That is a slang phrase for an iron crow .
1839		(con. 1724) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 223: The excellent use of jack and crow.
1869		J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 81: The demolishers came with their picks and crows.
1882		A. Trumble Crooked Life in Nat. Police Gaz. 13 May 3/2: The ‘smasher’ is one who pries open the shutters of the first house he comes across with a jimmy or small crow .