crony

crony
    n 1: a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their
         activities [syn: {buddy}, {brother}, {chum}, {crony},
         {pal}, {sidekick}]
    

crony \cro"ny\ (kr[=o]"n[y^]), n.; pl. {Cronies}
   (kr[=o]"n[i^]z). [Orig., an old woman. See {Crone}.]
   1. A crone. [Obs.] "Marry not an old crony." --Burton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. An intimate companion; a familiar friend. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

            He soon found his former cronies, though all rather
            the worse for the wear and tear of time. --W.
                                                  Irving.
      [1913 Webster]
    

57 Moby Thesaurus words for "crony":
      ace, adjunct, ally, amigo, associate, bedfellow, bedmate,
      bosom buddy, brother, brother-in-arms, buddy, bunkie, bunkmate,
      butty, camarade, chamberfellow, chum, classmate, coadjutor, cohort,
      colleague, comate, companion, company, compatriot, compeer,
      comrade, confederate, confrere, consociate, consort, copartner,
      fellow, fellow member, fellow student, girl friend, gossip, mate,
      messmate, old crony, pal, pard, pardner, partner, playfellow,
      playmate, roommate, running mate, schoolfellow, schoolmate,
      shipmate, side partner, sidekick, teammate, workfellow, yokefellow,
      yokemate