portreeve

noun

port·​reeve
ˈpōrt‧ˌrēv
variants or portgrave
-tˌgrāv
or portgreve
-tˌgrēv
plural -s
1
: a bailiff or mayor charged with keeping the peace and with other duties in a port or market borough of early England
2
: the chief officer of a seaport town

Word History

Etymology

portreeve from Middle English portereve, portreve, from Old English portgerēfa, from port + gerēfa reeve; portgreve, Middle English, alteration (influenced by Old English portgerēfa) of portreve; portgrave, alteration (influenced by Middle Dutch portgrave portreeve) of portgreve

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Dictionary Entries Near portreeve

Cite this Entry

“Portreeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portreeve. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

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