reeve

¹

[ reev ]

noun

, Government.

1. an administrative officer of a town or district.
2. British. an overseer or superintendent of workers, tenants, or an estate.
3. British. (formerly) a person of high rank representing the crown.
4. Canadian. the presiding officer of a village or town council.

reeve

²

[ reev ]

verb (used with object)

, Nautical.

, rove or reeved, ro·ven or reeved, reev·ing.

1. to pass (a rope or the like) through a hole, ring, or the like.
2. to fasten by placing through or around something.
3. to pass a rope through (the swallow of a block).

reeve

³

[ reev ]

noun

1. the female of the ruff, Philomachus pugnax.

reeve

¹

/ riːv /

noun

1. the female of the ruff (the bird)

reeve

²

/ riːv /

verb

1. to pass (a rope or cable) through an eye or other narrow opening
2. to fasten by passing through or around something

reeve

³

/ riːv /

noun

1. English history the local representative of the king in a shire (under the ealdorman) until the early 11th century Compare sheriff
2. (in medieval England) a manorial steward who supervised the daily affairs of the manor: often a villein elected by his fellows
3. canadian government (in certain provinces) a president of a local council, esp in a rural area
4. (formerly) a minor local official in any of several parts of England and the US

Word History and Origins

Origin of reeve¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (i)reve, refe, reive “royal administrative or judicial officer,” Old English gerēfa “high royal offiicial, fiscal officer, prefect”; further origin uncertain; sheriff

Origin of reeve²

First recorded in 1600–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Dutch reven “to reef”; reef ²

Origin of reeve³

First recorded in 1625–35; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of reeve¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Origin of reeve²

C17: perhaps from Dutch rēven reef ²

Origin of reeve³

Old English gerēva ; related to Old High German ruova number, array

Example Sentences

“Proud moment: I got Tate reeves to say the name Harry Azcrac on Facebook live. And yes I’ve been laughing for about 25 minutes now,” he tweeted on Saturday.

From Fox News

It was probably the shire reeve’s horse, for above the slow clatter over the cobbles Robin could hear the grating of runners on a kind of sled the horse was dragging.

From Literature

Before every event, players serving as “reeves” — a sort of referee — conduct a weapons check to make sure the swords, pikes, arrows and other implements comply with strict safety requirements.

From Washington Post

And everyone there started reeving their engines for him.

From Washington Times

I could fed him standing there watching me as I tried to reeve the lengths, but I knew they weren’t fitting together.

From Literature

Related Words

• administrator
• attendant
• curator
• waiter