Where does “reeve” come from?

reeve (Middle English) comes from Old English rēfa, from Old English ġerēfa, from Proto-West Germanic garāfijō — count; earl; reeve, bailiff.

reeve (Middle English): Alternative form of reve; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of reve; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “reeve”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishrēfaprefect
2Old Englishġerēfareeve, official; steward, reeve
3Proto-West Germanicgarāfijōcount; earl; reeve, bailiff
Every word from Proto-West Germanic garāfijō →Every word from Old English ġerēfa →Every word from Old English rēfa →