Corbeau

/kɔrˈboʊ/ noun

Definition

A French word meaning 'raven' or 'crow,' sometimes used in English heraldry or artistic contexts to describe these black birds.

Etymology

From Old French 'corbeau,' derived from Latin 'corvus' (raven/crow), which is the root of many Romance language words for these birds and reflects ancient Romans' familiarity with these common species.

Kelly Says

In medieval heraldry, 'corbeau' on a coat of arms usually meant intelligence or cunning, since ravens were famous in European folklore for being problem-solvers—the same bird intelligence we're discovering with modern crow research.

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