زَاغٌ

[The rook;] a small غُرَاب [or bird of the crow-kind], inclining to white, (O, Mgh, K, TA,) that does not eat carrion, (O, Mgh, TA,) and is allowed to be eaten; now called in Egypt the غُرَاب نُوحِىّ [or Noachian crow]: (TA:) or a غُرَاب like the pigeon, black, with a dusty colour in its head; or, as some say, inclining to white; that does not eat carrion: (Msb in article زوغ:) or a small black غُرَاب, that is eaten; also called حَذَفٌ, of which the n. un. is with ة: (ISh, TA in article حذف:) [these descriptions correctly apply to different varieties of the rook; some of which are distinguished by more or less whiteness in the head and other parts: in the present day, the word is, by some, perhaps generally, erroneously applied to the carrion-crow:] Az says, “ I know not whether it be Arabic or arabicized: ” (Msb in article زوغ, and TA:) the truth is, that it is a Pers. word, [زَاغْ,] arabicized; originally applied to crows (غِرْبَان), whether small or large; but when arabicized, applied peculiarly to one species thereof: (TA:) plural زِيغَانٌ. (O, Mgh, Msb, K.)