Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a narrow steep-sided valley commonly eroded by running water.
noun
- a deep narrow steep-sided valley, esp one formed by the action of running water
1760, “deep gorge,” from French ravin “a gully” (1680s, from Old French raviner “to pillage, sweep down, cascade”), and from French ravine “violent rush of water, gully worn by a torrent,” from Old French ravine “violent rush of water, waterfall; avalanche; robbery, rapine,” both ultimately from Latin rapina “act of robbery, plundering” (see rapine); sense influenced by Latin rapidus “rapid.” Middle English ravine meant “booty, plunder, robbery” from c.1350-1500. Cf. ravening.