n. A genus of rust fungi having aecia produced in raised or swollen sori and teliospores borne in waxy columns.
Syn. -- genus Cronartium. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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 ]

n. [ Cf. Coronel spearhead, Crown. ] The iron head of a tilting spear. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Coronet, Crownet. ] The coronet of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. Kro`nios Saturnian, fr. Kro`nos Saturn. ] Saturnian; -- applied to the North Polar Sea. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) A mineral consisting principally of silicate of iron, and crystallizing in hexagonal prisms with perfect basal cleavage; -- so named from the Swedish mineralogist Cronstedt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cronies [ Orig., an old woman. See Crone. ] 1. A crone. [ Obs. ] “Marry not an old crony.” Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An intimate companion; a familiar friend. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He soon found his former cronies, though all rather the worse for the wear and tear of time. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]