What is "reeve"

Reve \Reve\, n. [See Reeve.] An officer, steward, or governor. [Usually written reeve.] [Obs.]
--Piers Plowman.

Ruff \Ruff\, n. [Of uncertain origin: cf. Icel. r[umc]finn rough, uncombed, Pr. ruf rude, rough, Sp. rufo frizzed, crisp, curled, G. raufen to pluck, fight, rupfen to pluck, pull, E. rough. [root]18. Cf. Ruffle to wrinkle.]

1. A muslin or linen collar plaited, crimped, or fluted, worn formerly by both sexes, now only by women and children.

   Here to-morrow with his best ruff on.
   --Shak.

   His gravity is much lessened since the late proclamation came out against ruffs; . . . they were come to that height of excess herein, that twenty shillings were used to be paid for starching of a ruff.
   --Howell.

2. Something formed with plaits or flutings, like the collar of this name.

   I reared this flower; . . . Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread.
   --Pope.

3. An exhibition of pride or haughtiness.

   How many princes . . . in the ruff of all their glory, have been taken down from the head of a conquering army to the wheel of the victor's chariot!
   --L'Estrange.

4. Wanton or tumultuous procedure or conduct. [Obs.]

   To ruffle it out in a riotous ruff.
   --Latimer.

5. (Mil.) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; a ruffle.

6. (Mach.) A collar on a shaft ot other piece to prevent endwise motion. See Illust. of Collar.

7. (Zo["o]l.) A set of lengthened or otherwise modified feathers round, or on, the neck of a bird.

8. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. A limicoline bird of Europe and Asia ( Pavoncella pugnax, syn. Philomachus pugnax) allied to the sandpipers. The males during the breeding season have a large ruff of erectile feathers, variable in their colors, on the neck, and yellowish naked tubercles on the face. They are polygamous, and are noted for their pugnacity in the breeding season. The female is called reeve, or rheeve.

   2. A variety of the domestic pigeon, having a ruff of its neck.

"steward," Old English gerefa "king's officer," of unknown origin and with no known cognates. Not connected to German Graf (see margrave). An Anglo-Saxon official of high rank, having local jurisdiction under a king. Compare sheriff.

Etymology 1 n. (context historical English) Any of several local officials, with varying responsibilities. Etymology 2

vb. (context nautical dialect English) To pass a rope through a hole or opening, especially so as to fasten it. Etymology 3

n. A female of the species ''Philomachus pugnax'', a highly gregarious, medium-sized wading bird of Eurasia; the male is a ruff.

1. n. female ruff

2. v. pass a rope through; "reeve an opening"

3. pass through a hole or opening; "reeve a rope"

4. fasten by passing through a hole or around something

5. [also: rove]

Reeve may refer to:

Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district. Subsequently, after the Norman conquest, it was an office held by a man of lower rank, appointed as manager of a manor and overseer of the peasants. In this later role, historian H. R. Loyn observes, "he is the earliest English specialist in estate management."

Reeve is a surname. Some notable persons with the surname include:

• Ada Reeve (1874–1966), English actress
• Arthur B. Reeve (1880–1936), American author
• Arthur Stretton Reeve (1907–1981), Bishop of Lichfield
• Arthur W.V. Reeve (1913 – c. 1994), Scouting New Zealand notable, awardee of the Bronze Wolf in 1979
• Birdie Reeve Kay (1907–1996), American champion typist
• C. D. C. Reeve (born 1948), American philosopher
• Cheryl Reeve, American basketball head coach
• Chris Reeve (born 1953), American knife maker
• Christopher Reeve (1952–2004), actor, director, producer and writer
• Clara Reeve (1729–1807), English novelist
• Dana Reeve (1961–2006), actress, singer and activist
• Dermot Reeve (born 1963), former English cricketer
• Donald Reeve (1923-1994), British civil engineer
• Ella Reeve Bloor (1862–1951), American labor organizer and activist
• F.D. Reeve (1928 - 2013), American poet
• Geoffrey Reeve (1932–2010), British movie director and producer
• Henry Reeve (journalist) (1813–1895), English journalist
• Henry Reeve (soldier) (1850–1876), Brigadier General in Cuba's 'Ejército Libertador'
• Isaac Van Duzen Reeve (1813–1890), soldier in the United States Army
• James H. Reeve, UK broadcaster, journalist, raconteur and radio phone-in host
• Jill Reeve (born 1969), former American field hockey defender
• Joel Reeve (1901–1988), pseudonym of American author William Robert Cox
• John Reeve (religious leader) (1608–1658), English prophet and author
• John Reeve (businessman), British CEO of Willis Group Holdings
• John Reeve Lavell (1857–1925), lawyer and political figure in Ontario
• John N. Reeve, American microbiologist
• Lovell Augustus Reeve (1814–1865), malacologist
• Martin Reeve, British actor
• Paul Reeve, British record producer
• Philip Reeve (born 1966), British author and illustrator
• Robert Campbell Reeve (1902–1980), founder of Reeve Aleutian Airlines
• Sally Reeve (born 1971), British actress
• Simon Reeve (disambiguation)
• Stephanie Reeve, English actress
• Sue Reeve (born 1951), English long jumper
• Tapping Reeve (1744–1823), American lawyer and law educator
• Ted Reeve (1902–1983), multi-sport Canadian athlete and sports journalist
• Thomas Reeve (1673–1737), British justice
• William Reeve (1757–1815), English theatre composer and organist
• William Day Reeve (1844–1925), Anglican priest