Where does “reeve” come from?
Reeve comes from Old English ġerēfa, which derives from Proto-Indo-European roots including Hrewp-, kreup-, and krep-, ultimately connected to concepts of gathering or heaping.
reeve (English): Any of several local officials, with varying...
Definitions
- Any of several local officials, with varying...
Ancestry of “reeve”, step by step
reeve traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English reve
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | reve | A reeve or bailiff a local official; an administrator |
| 2 | Old English | rēfa | prefect |
| 3 | Old English | ġerēfa | reeve, official; steward, reeve |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | garāfijō | count; earl; reeve, bailiff |
via Dutch reven
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | reven |