Scarecrow (noun)

1. A figure made to resemble a human and used to frighten birds away from crops.
2. A decoy used to deter animals from a specific area.
3. A person or thing that serves as a deterrent or as a warning.

Origin:

Formed from the noun scare, meaning 'to frighten', and the noun crow, meaning 'a bird of the crow family'.

Examples:

1. The farmer put up a scarecrow in the field to keep the birds from eating his crops.
2. The scarecrow was dressed in old clothes and had a straw hat on its head.
3. The scarecrow proved to be an effective deterrent, as the birds avoided the area where it was standing.
4. The scarecrow was an iconic symbol of the rural countryside, and was often depicted in paintings and folktales.
5. The scarecrow was a reminder of the power of imagination and the ability of people to overcome even the most daunting of challenges.