corvus, i, m. [root kar-, kal-, to sound; cf.: kale/w, ko/rac, etc.], a raven, Plin. 10, 43, 60, 121 sq.; acc. to the fable, orig. white, changed to a black bird in punishment for treachery, Ov. M. 2, 541 sq.; on account of its gift of prophecy (oscen, Hor. C. 3, 27, 11), consecrated to Apollo, Ov. M. 5, 329 (hence, Phoebeïus ales, id. ib. 2, 545: Delphicus ales, Petr. 122; cf. also Stat. Th. 3, 506); its flight to the right indicated good fortune, Plaut. As. 2, 1, 12; Cic. Div. 1, 39, 85.—B. Prov.: in cruce corvos pascere,
to be hanged
, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 48.—II.Meton., of bodies whose form or coloring is similar to that of the raven's bill. A. In form. 1.A military implement, a grapnel, Curt. 4, 2, 12; 4, 3, 24 Mützell.—2.A battering-ram, Vitr. 10, 19.—3.A surgical instrument, in the form of a hook, Cels. 7, 19, 33.—4.The constellation Corvus, Vitr. 9, 7; Hyg. Astr. 3, 39.—B. From its color, a sea-fish, Plin. 32, 11, 53, 146; Cels. 2, 18; Aus. Ep. 4, 63.—C. In mal. part. = fellator, Juv. 2, 63; cf. Mart. 14, 74.