v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Raveled r Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling. ] [ OD. ravelen, D. rafelen, akin to LG. rebeln, rebbeln, reffeln. ] 1. To separate or undo the texture of; to unravel; to take apart; to untwist; to unweave or unknit; -- often followed by out; as, to ravel a twist; to ravel out a stocking. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleep, that knits up the raveled sleave of care. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To undo the intricacies of; to disentangle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To pull apart, as the threads of a texture, and let them fall into a tangled mass; hence, to entangle; to make intricate; to involve. [ 1913 Webster ]

What glory's due to him that could divide
Such raveled interests? has the knot untied? Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

The faith of very many men seems a duty so weak and indifferent, is so often untwisted by violence, or raveled and entangled in weak discourses! Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become untwisted or unwoven; to be disentangled; to be relieved of intricacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fall into perplexity and confusion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Till, by their own perplexities involved,
They ravel more, still less resolved. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make investigation or search, as by picking out the threads of a woven pattern. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The humor of raveling into all these mystical or entangled matters. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Also raveller. ] One who ravels. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F.; cf. Sp. rebellin, It. revellino, rivellino; perhaps fr. L. re- again + vallum wall. ] (Fort.) A detached work with two embankments which make a salient angle. It is raised before the curtain on the counterscarp of the place. Formerly called demilune and half-moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Also ravelling. ] 1. The act of untwisting or of disentangling. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is raveled out; esp., a thread detached from a texture. [ 1913 Webster ]