Etymograph

English

greave

Greave comes from Old French greve ‘shin’.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400greve‘shin’
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘thicket, copse, bush’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1883greave

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400greve‘shin’
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘thicket, copse, bush’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1883greave

Earliest quotation: 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood […]: “And through the stained windows bright, / From o'er…”

The story

Watkins suggests a connection with greve (‘part in the hair’), due to the resemblance of the medial ridge to a part in the hair, from graver (‘to part (the hair); engrave’), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *graban (‘to engrave’); if so, related to Etymology 2 above.

Linked words

through Middle English greve ‘thicket, copse, bush’

grieve, 1 more

Today it means

noun A piece of armour that protects the leg, especially the shin, and occasionally the tops of the feet.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Old French greve / greave

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