\Cra"ven\ (kr?"v'n), a. [OE. cravant, cravaunde, OF.
cravant? struck down, p. p. of cravanter, crevanter, to
break, crush, strike down, fr. an assumed LL. crepantare, fr.
L. crepans, p. pr. of crepare to break, crack, rattle. Cf.
{Crevice}, {Crepitate}.]
Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless. ``His craven heart.''
--Shak.
      The poor craven bridegroom said never a word. --Sir. W.
                                               Scott.
      In craven fear of the sarcasm of Dorset. --Macaulay.

\Cra"ven\, n. [Formerly written also cravant and
cravent.]
A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See
{Recreant}, n.
      King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
      Fluellen. He is a craven and a villain else. --Shak.
Syn: Coward; poltroon; dastard.

\Cra"ven\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cravened} (-v'nd); p. pr.
& vb. n. {Cravening}.]
To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly. [Obs.]
      There is a prohibition so divine, That cravens my weak
      hand.                                    --Shak.