Word Study
reeve
CIDE DICTIONARY
reeve, n.
The female of the ruff. [1913 Webster]
To pass, as the end of a pope, through any hole in a block, thimble, cleat, ringbolt, cringle, or the like. [1913 Webster]
reeve, n. [OE. reve, AS. ger. Cf. Sheriff.].
an officer, steward, bailiff, or governor; -- used chiefly in compounds; as, shirereeve, now written sheriff; portreeve, etc. Chaucer. Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
reeve, n.
1 hist. a the chief magistrate of a town or district. b an official supervising a landowner's estate. c any of various minor local officials.
2 Can. the president of a village or town council.
1 hist. a the chief magistrate of a town or district. b an official supervising a landowner's estate. c any of various minor local officials.
2 Can. the president of a village or town council.
reeve, v.tr. (past rove or reeved) Naut.
1 (usu. foll. by through) thread (a rope or rod etc.) through a ring or other aperture.
2 pass a rope through (a block etc.).
3 fasten (a rope or block) in this way.
1 (usu. foll. by through) thread (a rope or rod etc.) through a ring or other aperture.
2 pass a rope through (a block etc.).
3 fasten (a rope or block) in this way.
reeve, n. a female ruff (see RUFF(1)).
Etymology
17th c.: orig. unkn.
THESAURUS
reeve
G-man, MP, alderman, archon, bailie, bailiff, beadle, beagle, bound bailiff, burghermaster, burgomaster, cabinet member, cabinet minister, captain, catchpole, chancellor, chief of police, city councilman, city father, city manager, commissar, commissioner, constable, councillor, councilman, councilwoman, county commissioner, county supervisor, deputy, deputy sheriff, detective, elder, fed, federal, flic, gendarme, government man, headman, induna, inspector, legislator, lictor, lieutenant, lord mayor, mace-bearer, magistrate, maire, marshal, mayor, minister, minister of state, mounted policeman, narc, officer, patrolman, peace officer, police captain, police commissioner, police constable, police inspector, police matron, police officer, police sergeant, policeman, policewoman, portreeve, roundsman, secretary, secretary of state, selectman, sergeant, sergeant at arms, sheriff, superintendent, supervisor, syndic, tipstaff, tipstaves, trooper, undersecretary, wardenFor further exploring for "reeve" in Webster Dictionary Online