In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
REEVE
reeve
(noun) female ruff
reeve
(verb) fasten by passing through a hole or around something
reeve
(verb) pass through a hole or opening; “reeve a rope”
reeve
(verb) pass a rope through; “reeve an opening”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
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
Etymology 2
Verb
reeve (third-person singular simple present reeves, present participle reeving, simple past and past participle rove or reeved)
(nautical, dialect) To pass (a rope) through a hole or opening, especially so as to fasten it.
Etymology 3
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
Proper noun
Reeve
An occupational surname for a bailiff.
Anagrams
• evere
Source: Wiktionary
Reeve (rv), n. (Zoöl.)
Definition: The female of the ruff.
Reeve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rove (rv); p. pr. & vb. n. Reeving.] Etym: [Cf. D. reven. See Reef, n. & v. t.] (Naut.)
Definition: To pass, as the end of a pope, through any hole in a block, thimble, cleat, ringbolt, cringle, or the like.
Reeve, n. Etym: [OE. reve, AS. ger. Cf. Sheriff.]
Definition: an officer, steward, bailiff, or governor; -- used chiefly in compounds; as, shirereeve, now written sheriff; portreeve, etc. Chaucer. Piers Plowman.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
25 March 2025
IMMOBILIZATION
(noun) fixation (as by a plaster cast) of a body part in order to promote proper healing; “immobilization of the injured knee was necessary”
Coffee Trivia
