| 释义 |
theave, thaive local.|θiːv, θeɪv|
Forms: α. 6 thayffe, 7 theafe, 8 theaf, thief. β. 7–9 theave, 8–9 thaive, 9 thave. pl. 5–6 theyves, 6–7 theves, 7 theives, 6– theaves.
[Known from 15th c.: etymology unascertained.]
The name given in the midland and some southern counties of England to a female sheep of a particular age: most generally applied to a ewe of the first or second year, that has not yet borne a lamb; in some parts to a ewe between the first and second shearing: see quotations.
In Eng. Dial. Dict. cited in use from S.W. Yorkshire to the Thames, and from Hereford to Essex; also in Berks, Wilts, Dorset. In some districts app. identified with teg or hog, in others with the age succeeding this.
1465Paston Lett. III. 437 Item,..iiijxx hoggys and xl theyves. 1517in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1897) XII. 234, 60 young ewes or theaves. 1523Fitzherb. Husb. §53 The ewes by them-selfe, the share-hogges and theyues by them selfe. 1544(Dec. 13) Will of J. Borow of S. Stoke (MS.), A thayffe youe. 1596Unton Invent. (1841) 9 Two hundred tegges and theves. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 495 The first year we call it in English a Lamb.., the second year, a Hog, Lam-hog, or Teg if it be a female, the third year, Hoggrils and Theives. 1614Markham Cheap Husb. iii. i. (1668) 87 The second year the male is a Weather, and the female a Theafe, and then she may be put to the Ram; but if you let her go over that year also, then she is a double Theafe. 1669Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 323 A Theave, an Ew of the first year. [So1691Ray S. & E.C. Words, Essex.] 1736W. Ellis New Exper. Husb. 52 (E.D.S.) The first year we call the ewe a lamb; the second year a ewe pug or teg; the third year a thaive; and the fourth year a sheep. 1799A. Young Agric. Lincoln. 314 Theaves; ewe hogs. 1841Penny Cycl. XXI. 356/1 After being shorn, she is a shearing ewe or gimmer, or theave or double-toothed ewe; and after that, a two or three or four shear ewe or theave. 1844Stephens Bk. Farm II. 39 Gimmers are called theaves until they bear the first lamb. 1863Morton Cycl. Agric. (E.D.S.), Theaves (West Engl.), ewes that have been shorn once. 1879G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk. 437 Thave, a ewe sheep of the first year. 1886C. Scott Sheep-Farming 18 From first to second shearing... Gimmer, Theave, Shearling ewe. 1904Eng. Dial. Dict., Theave. Wiltsh. A ewe of the third year. Dorset. A sheep three years old and therefore having six incisors. |