le corbeau

Meaning (in English)

1. Raven: A large black bird (genus Corvus), known for its intelligence and harsh call.
   Example sense: “un corbeau” = “a raven”.

2. Anonymous letter-writer / malicious informant (figurative, common in modern usage): Someone who sends anonymous letters, often to denounce or harass others.
   This meaning comes from the idea of a dark, ominous messenger. It is famously used in the title Le Corbeau (about anonymous denunciation letters).

Parts / word structure

• corbeau is a simple lexical word (not transparently built from common modern prefixes/suffixes).
• Related family: corvidé (corvid), corneille (crow; a different but related bird), corbeaux (plural).

French synonyms

For the bird sense (raven):

• grand corvidé (more descriptive than a true synonym)
• Sometimes loosely: corneille (often used in everyday speech, though it properly refers to crows, not ravens)

For the figurative sense (anonymous accuser):

• dénonciateur anonyme
• maître-chanteur (if the anonymous letters involve blackmail; not always equivalent)
• calomniateur (slanderer; close in intent but not necessarily anonymous)

French antonyms (if applicable)

Bird sense: no real antonym.

Figurative sense:

• signataire / auteur déclaré (someone who signs their name, i.e., not anonymous)
• défenseur (defender) or protecteur (protector), depending on context (opposed in role/intent rather than a strict lexical antonym)