Obs. Ireland. [app. a corrupt form of some Irish word.
The adj. carach ‘tricky, shifty, deceitful’ has been suggested; but evidence is wanting.] (See quots.)
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 45/1. A brotherhood of karrowes, that proffer to plaie at cards all the yeare long.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (1862), 527/1. There is another … much more lewd and dishonest, and that is, of their Carrows, which is a kinde of people that wander up and downe to Gentle-mens houses, living onely upon cardes and dice.
1829. Scott, Antiq., Introd. 8. In the character of the Irish itinerant gambler, called in that country a carrow.
