Cro"ny (kr?"n?), n.; pl. Cronies (-nz). [Orig., an old woman. See Crone.]
1.
A crone.
[Obs.] "Marry not an old
crony."
Burton.
2.
An intimate companion; a familiar friend
. [Colloq.]
He soon found his former cronies, though all rather the worse for the wear and tear of time.
W. Irving.
© Webster 1913.