The Collaborative International Dictionary
sea ravens
Cormorant \Cor"mo*rant\ (k[^o]r"m[-o]*rant), n. [F. cormoran, fr. Armor. m[=o]r-vran a sea raven; m[=o]r sea + bran raven, with cor, equiv. to L. corvus raven, pleonastically prefixed; or perh. fr. L. corvus marinus sea raven.]
(Zo["o]l.) Any species of Phalacrocorax, a genus of sea birds having a sac under the beak; the shag. Cormorants devour fish voraciously, and have become the emblem of gluttony. They are generally black, and hence are called sea ravens, and coalgeese. [Written also corvorant.]
A voracious eater; a glutton, or gluttonous servant.
--B. Jonson.
Wiktionary
sea ravens
n. (sea raven English)