a British colony whose administration and legislature is controlled by the Crown
crown colony in American English
a British colony directly under the control of the home government in London
crown colony in American English
noun
a British colony in which the crown has the entire control of legislation and administration, as distinguished from one having a constitution and representative government
Word origin
[1835–45]This word is first recorded in the period 1835–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: daisy chain, faceplate, grandstand, hybridize, placement