Ra"ven (?), n. [AS. hraefn; akin to raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. . .] Zool.
A large black passerine bird (Corvus corax), similar to the crow, but larger. It is native of the northern part of Europe, Asia and America, and is noted for its sagacity.
Sea raven Zool., the cormorant.
© Webster 1913.
Ra"ven, a.
Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness.
<-- raven-haired -->
© Webster 1913.
Rav"en (?), n. [OF. ravine impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See Ravine, Rapine.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.]
1.
Rapine; rapacity.
Ray.
2.
Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.
© Webster 1913.
Rav"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravening.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.]
1.
To obtain or seize by violence.
Hakewill.
2.
To devoir with great eagerness.
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Rav"en, v. i.
To prey with rapacity; to be greedy; to show rapacity.
[Written also
ravin, and
ravine.]
Benjamin shall raven as a wolf.
Gen. xlix. 27.
© Webster 1913.