Raven

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹeɪvən/

Definitions

1. A sizable bird with a jet-black plumage, known for its sharp wits and often linked to folklore and omens
2. This bird is notable for its powerful call, striking appearance, and role in various myths and stories worldwide
3. A large corvid with glossy black feathers, famous for its intelligence and frequently associated with mystery and cultural symbolism

Etymology: The bird's name is among the oldest imitative words in the Germanic languages. Old English "hræfn" descends from a Proto-Germanic form "hrabnaz", and that in turn probably comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to croak" or "to crackle". The name was thus built around the bird's harsh call, so the word itself is an echo of the sound the bird makes. The same word also gave English a second, quite different sense. In Middle English "raven" could name the constellation Corvus, the rook, and the carrion crow, and it also referred to the gall nuts of the Aleppo oak, which were prized for making black ink. The ink sense shows how strongly the word was tied to the colour black. A separate verb, "ravin", with a related form "ravine", shows a variant that was drawn from the same Middle English pool of forms. Its link to the bird is through shared spelling and sound rather than a clear shared meaning.

Synonyms: crow, blackbird, corvid