ravenishadj.
/ˈreɪvn̩ɪʃ/, /ˈreɪvənɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈreɪv(ə)nɪʃ/ rare.
Resembling or reminiscent of a raven; esp. blackish, dark.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > black or blackness > [adjective] > typically black > as raven
ravenishc1500
raven-blackc1583
raven-coloured1594
raven1637
c1500 in H. A. Person Cambr. Middle Eng. Lyrics (1953) 39 (MED) Hyr eyen byn holow and grene as any grasse, And rauynnysshe yelow ys hyr sonny tresse.
1831 Metropolitan June 133 The library..looked so like a rookery, and there was something in the party so ravenish and jackdaw-like, that I fancied myself in the Propaganda, or among the protestant brotherhood of Sourcraut Hall.
1907 Daily Independent (Monessen, Pa.) 2 Jan. 4/1 She had a ravenish croak and a sweet melody in her voice, so that no one could tell whether she meant to be pleasant or disagreeable.
2000 Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 14 Apr. l4 Dyeing their sun-kissed blond locks (natural or otherwise) a ravenish brunette.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1500