Where Does the Saying “As the Crow Flies” Come From?
Wouter“As the crow flies” is an idiom that originated in medieval times. During this time, sailors would keep a raven or crow on board and release it into the sea when they were near land. This helped them determine where they were and whether they were near the land. The crow then flew in the direction of land, which made it easier for sailors to know where they were.
The phrase has been in use for more than two centuries. Its original meaning is “as the crow flies,” and it has been used in several languages. It is not clear if the phrase originated in any one language, or if it originated in a different culture. The phrase, however, does have a connection to the flight of crows, and is often used to estimate distance between two points.
As the crow flies is a phrase used to describe the shortest and most direct route from one location to another. The crow generally flies in direct line and does not veer around obstacles or stop at water. The phrase comes from the observation of nature, and is based on the flight patterns of crows.
As the crow flies has an interesting origin, and has been around since the seventeenth century. The phrase was first recorded in print in 1767 and has since become a common idiom. The phrase, derived from the fact that crows generally fly directly to their food source, was probably coined by a Frenchman.
