Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
RAVEN
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hræfn; akin to Old High German hraban raven, Latin corvus, Greek korax Date: before 12th century a large glossy black corvine bird ( Corvus corax ) of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and America,
II. adjective
Date: 1588
shiny and black like a raven's feathers ,
III. verb (ravened; ravening)
Etymology: Middle French raviner to rush, take by force, from ravine rapine
Date: 1530
intransitive verb to feed greedily, to prowl for food ; prey , plunder , transitive verb to devour greedily, despoil , ravener noun