Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
reeve 2 [reev] WORD ORIGIN verb (used with object), rove or reeved, ro·ven or reeved, reev·ing. Nautical. to pass (a rope or the like) through a hole, ring, or the like. to fasten by placing through or around something. to pass a rope through (the swallow of a block). Liberaldictionary.com
Origin of reeve 2 1620–30; Dutch reven to reef; see reef2 Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 British Dictionary definitions for roven reeve 1 noun English history the local representative of the king in a shire (under the ealdorman) until the early 11th centuryCompare sheriff (in medieval England) a manorial steward who supervised the daily affairs of the manor: often a villein elected by his fellows canadian government (in certain provinces) a president of a local council, esp in a rural area (formerly) a minor local official in any of several parts of England and the US Word Origin for reeve Old English gerēva; related to Old High German ruova number, array reeve 2 verb reeves, reeving, reeved or rove (rəʊv) (tr) nautical to pass (a rope or cable) through an eye or other narrow opening to fasten by passing through or around something Word Origin for reeve C17: perhaps from Dutch rēven reef ² reeve 3 noun the female of the ruff (the bird) Word Origin for reeve C17: of uncertain origin Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for roven reeve n.
“steward,” Old English gerefa “king’s officer,” of unknown origin and with no known cognates. Not connected to German Graf (see margrave). An Anglo-Saxon official of high rank, having local jurisdiction under a king. Cf. sheriff.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
