慈じ鳥ちょう

noun

crow; raven

Rare literary or poetic term for a crow or raven. The kanji 慈 (compassion) and 鳥 (bird) suggest a benevolent or auspicious view of the bird, but the word is not in common modern use.

See also: カラス

• 古ふるい詩し集しゅうに「慈じ鳥ちょう」という言こと葉ばが出でてくる。

  The word 慈鳥 appears in an old poetry collection.