night raven

American  

noun

1. a bird that cries in the night.

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night raven British  

noun

1. poetic any bird, esp the night heron, that is most active at night

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Etymology

Origin of night raven

before 900; Middle English; Old English nihthræfn, næhthræfn.

Example Sentences

The night raven taught each of the young Will-o'-the-Wisps to say, 'Goo-goo-good,' and to say it in the right place; and that's a great gift which brings its own reward.

From Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by Andersen, H. C. (Hans Christian)

Where brooding darkness spreads her jealous wings, And the night raven sings; There, under ebon shades and low-browed rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In deep Cimmerian darkness ever dwell.

From McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader by McGuffey, William Holmes

The dismal croaking of the night raven, the hissing of serpents, the hoarse bellowing of wild bulls, the roaring of lions, the laughing of hyenas, and other hideous cries of all sorts of savage beasts.

From The Seven Champions of Christendom by Kingston, William Henry Giles

"If M. le Marquis had a voice as hoarse as a night raven or as harsh as a rattle, I should still think he had a charming voice."

From The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 3 of 6 by Sue, Eugène

The magpie chatters long to the night bat Of thee; the locust boasts she is like thee; The wasp draws ample pleasure in thy shelter; And the night raven finds delight in thee.

From Life Immovable First Part by Phoutrides, Aristides E. (Aristides Evangelus)