/ɹiːv/
OriginFrom Middle English reve, from Old English rēfa, an aphetism of ġerēfa (also groefa), from Proto-West Germanic *garāfijō (“officer, official”). Compare Danish greve, Swedish greve, Dutch graaf, German Graf.
The role, and eventually the word, was mostly replaced by bailiff, of Anglo-Norman origin.
- historicalAny of several local officials, with varying responsibilities.
“His first convert was the reeve of the city of Lincoln called Blæcca, ...”
- CanadaThe president of a township or municipal district council.
- historicalThe holder of a proposed but unadopted commissioned rank of the Royal Air Force, equivalent to wing commander.
“A list of new titles was manufactured as follows: Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight-Leader, Squadron-Leader, Reeve, Banneret, Fourth-Ardian, Third-Ardian, Second-Ardian, Ardian, Air Marshal. […] “Reeve”, per”
- A female of the species Philomachus pugnax, a highly gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of Eurasia; the male is a ruff.
- dialectalTo pass (a rope) through a hole or opening, especially so as to fasten it.
“"Let the rope go," he says. With his other hand he reaches down and reeves the two turns from the stanchion.”
- A surname originating as an occupation for a bailiff.
- An unincorporated community in Vance Creek, Barron County, Wisconsin, United States.
Formsreeves(plural) · reve(alternative, obsolete) · reeves(present, singular, third-person) · reeving(participle, present) · reeved(participle, past) · reeved(past) · rove(participle, past) · rove(past)