reeve

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɹiːv/ Rhymes: -iːv Homophone: reave === Etymology 1 === From Middle English reve, from Old English rēfa, an aphetism of ġerēfa (also grœ̄fa), 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. ==== Alternative forms ==== reve (obsolete) ==== Noun ==== reeve (plural reeves) (historical) Any of several local officials, with varying responsibilities. (Canada) The president of a township or municipal district council. (military, historical) The holder of a proposed but unadopted commissioned rank of the Royal Air Force, equivalent to wing commander. ===== Synonyms ===== (medieval official): provost ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== sheriff ===== Translations ===== ==== See also ==== bailiff === Etymology 2 === Apparent alternative form of reef (“to pull or yank strongly”, verb) or from Dutch reven (“to take in, insert”). ==== Verb ==== reeve (third-person singular simple present reeves, present participle reeving, simple past and past participle reeved or rove) (nautical, dialect) To pass (a rope) through a hole or opening, especially so as to fasten it. ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 3 === Variant of dialectal ree, but of obscure ultimate origin. ==== Noun ==== reeve (plural reeves) A female of the species Philomachus pugnax, a highly gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of Eurasia; the male is a ruff. === Anagrams === evere == Middle English == === Etymology 1 === ==== Noun ==== reeve alternative form of reve === Etymology 2 === ==== Verb ==== reeve alternative form of reven