raven 1
— ravenlike , adj.
/ray"veuhn/ , n.
1. any of several large, corvine birds having lustrous, black plumage and a loud, harsh call, esp. Corvus corax, of the New and Old Worlds.
2. the divine culture hero and trickster of the North Pacific Coast Indians.
3. ( cap. ) Astron. the constellation Corvus.
adj.
4. lustrous black: raven locks of hair.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE hraefn; c. G Rabe, ON hrafn ]
raven 2
/rav"euhn/ , v.i.
1. to seek plunder or prey.
2. to eat or feed voraciously or greedily: to raven like an animal.
3. to have a ravenous appetite.
v.t.
4. to seize as spoil or prey.
5. to devour voraciously.
n.
6. rapine; robbery.
7. plunder or prey.
Also, ravin .
[ 1485-95; earlier ravine raviner, ult. rapina RAPINE ]