Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Raven
Ra′ven (rā′v'n), n. [AS. hræfn; akin to D. raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. κόραξ. √19.] (Zoöl.) A large black passerine bird (Corvus corax), similar to the crow, but larger. It is native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and is noted for its sagacity.
Sea raven (Zoöl.), the cormorant.
Ra′ven, a. Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness.
Rav′en (răv′'n), n. [OF. raviné impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See Ravine, Rapine.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.] 1. Rapine; rapacity. Ray.
2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.
Rav′en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravening.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.]
1. To obtain or seize by violence. Hakewill.
2. To devour with great eagerness.
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane. Shak.
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.