greeve

G2R1E1E1V4E1

noun

A reeve; steward.

OriginMiddle English gryve ← Old Norse greifi →
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Meanings

greeve1

noungreeve (plural greeves)

plural greeves · alternative greave · alternative grieve

  1. UKdialectalA reeve; steward.

greeve2

noungreeve (plural greeves)

plural greeves

  1. alternativeAlternative form of greave.

    For the defence of the legs were worn a sort of iron boots, called Greeves.

    1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 22

Origin

greeve · noun

  1. Old Norsegreifi“a count, earl, steward”
  2. Middle Englishgryve
  3. Englishgreeve

From Middle English gryve, grayve, from Old Norse greifi (“a count, earl, steward”), akin to Swedish and Danish greve (“a count, earl”), Old English ġerēfa (“reeve”). More at reeve.

More words from Middle English, Old Norse

Full word history & related roots →

greeve · noun

  1. Middle Englishgreve
  2. Englishgreeve

From Middle English greve, grayve, see greave.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

greeve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/greeve

MLA

“greeve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/greeve. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “greeve,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/greeve.

Source: greeve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.