Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēves n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēves n. Also ewse, ovese, avis. Pl. eves-en, -es. |
| Etymology | OE efes & *ofes (cp. OFris. ose, MLG ovese). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The projecting lower edge of a roof, eaves, eave.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29279 : Þa sparwen..i þan eouesen [pr. m. ouesen] he grupen.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)362 : Ðe spinnere..festeð atte hus rof hire fodredes, o rof er on ouese.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.166 : A la severunde [gloss: at the eveses].
- (1423) Doc.in HMC Rep.9 App.1169b : Þe goter and ewse..of his hous.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)22a/b : Domisilium: an house euese.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.227 : As men may se in wyntre Ysekeles in eueses.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)144 : Evese, or evesynge of a howse: Stillicidium, imbrex, imbricium.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14689 : Þe sparewes..In eueses þey crepte.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2354 : The leem & blase..kissid so þe evese þat brent was al the plase.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16755 : A Sparwe koude ffynden out an hevese off an hous to bredyn Inne.
2.
(a) Edge or border (of a wood); (b) brow or summit (of a hill).
Associated quotations
a
- (1265) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.182 : John Attenevese.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)546 : Hevese: hourail.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1178 : Þus laykez þis lorde by lynde-wodez euez.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)386/23 : In to the wodes evese.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Tob.11.5 : In the euese [WB(2): in the cop; L in supercilio] of the hil, fro whennus she myȝte beholden fro aferr.
3.
In compounds and combinations: (a) relating to roofs (sense 1.): eves bord; ~ drop q.v.; ~ dropere q.v.; ~ dropping; ~ lath = ~ bord; ~ ston; (b) relating to woods (sense 2.): holt ~, q.v.; wode ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (1369) Doc.Manor in MP 3451 : Euesbord.
- (a1390-1) Doc.Manor in MP 3451 : Eueslath.
- (1423) Acc.Hollingbourne in Archaeol.Cant.13561 : For hewyng of ij ton tymbyr for cotylbord, evyslathe, and schretherris for the barnysend.
- (1425) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.156/509 : For iiij Evesbordes yn þat same place þere þe Cloister was be-side the kechon.
- (1431-4) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7830 : Pro tegulis ad le eves, alias eves-stones.
- (1431) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)206 : Payed to þe Tylers For Tylyng..Evysbordys and dyapring off Tyles.
- (1458) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1024 : For lviii fote of hevys bord to the same howse.
- (1484-85) Acc.Ashburton in D&CRS n.s.156 : [Item for] avys bordes, 14d.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)546 : Passerez desouz le hourail [gloss: wode hevese].