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