What does ravin mean?
Ravin is an archaic spelling of the word now normally written “raven.” It denotes a raven, a large member of the crow family associated with a glossy black plumage, a heavy beak, and a distinctive call. The form can be encountered in older English literature or in writing that imitates an earlier literary style, but it is not the standard spelling in contemporary British or American English. Because ravin and raven refer to the same bird, the difference is one of historical form rather than meaning. In modern contexts, “raven” is appropriate for both ordinary descriptions of the bird and expressions referring to its dark appearance, intelligence, or ominous reputation. A writer choosing ravin is usually making an archaic or literary effect, and readers may therefore need a moment to recognize the familiar word beneath the older spelling.
nounAn archaic spelling of “raven,” especially the large black bird of the crow family.
- A raven, especially the large black bird belonging to the crow family.
"A lone ravin circled above the cliffs as the evening light faded."
"The ravin returned to its nest with a small fish in its bill."
"In the archaic passage, a dark ravin watched from the castle tower."
This is the regular plural of the archaic spelling; modern usage normally has “ravens.”
"Several ravins gathered around the carcass."
Ravin preserves an older spelling of “raven,” but modern English has long since standardized the shorter, familiar form.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ravin come from?
Ravin is an archaic spelling within the English word family represented today by “raven.” The name ultimately derives from Old English hræfn, while the modern form raven was also influenced by Old Norse hrefn. Related forms survive in other Germanic languages, including German Rabe and Dutch raaf. The older spelling ravin belongs to the word’s historical development and does not represent a separate kind of bird.
How ravin is actually used
Ravin is archaic or literary and may appear in older texts, quotations, or deliberately archaic writing. In ordinary modern English, use “raven.”
Easily confused with ravin
Ravin is an obsolete spelling of raven, whereas raven is the standard modern spelling of the bird and the usual word for it in current English.