reeve
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈrēv 
1
: a local administrative agent of an Anglo-Saxon king
2
: a medieval English manor officer responsible chiefly for overseeing the discharge of feudal obligations
3
a
: the council president in some Canadian municipalities
b
: a local official charged with enforcement of specific regulations
deer reeve
reeve
2 of 3verb
rove ˈrōv or reeved; reeving
or reeved; reeving transitive verb
1
: to pass (something, such as a rope) through a hole or opening
2
: to fasten by passing through a hole or around something
3
: to pass a rope through
intransitive verb
of a rope : to pass through a block or similar device
reeve
3 of 3noun (2)
: the female of the ruff (sandpiper)
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English reve, from Old English gerēfa, from ge- (associative prefix) + -rēfa (akin to Old English -rōf number, Old High German ruova) — more at co-
Verb
origin unknown
Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1610, in the meaning defined above