eaves
pronunciation
How to pronounce eaves in British English:
UK [i:vz]
How to pronounce eaves in American English:
US [ivz]
-
- Noun:
- the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
Word Origin
- eaves
- eaves: [OE] The etymological meaning of eaves appears to be ‘going over the edge, projecting’. It comes from a prehistoric Germanic *obaswa, which was probably formed on *ob-, the base from which English over ultimately derives. The eavesdrip or eavesdrop is, or was, the area of ground on which rainwater thrown off by the eaves falls, so that somebody who stood within this area, with his or her ear to the door or window trying to listen in on private conversations, became known as an eavesdropper [15].=> over
- eaves (n.)
- see eave.
Example
- 1. A tranquil courtyard was surrounded by whitewashed timber structures , all with elegant upturned eaves .
- 2. Image above : our bedroom sits in the eaves of the cottage in the new extension .
- 3. He walked back a few steps to stand under the eaves of a shop , in front of its closed door .
- 4. After certain storms , the villagers must climb into the rafters and out through the open eaves onto the roofs of their great dark houses to see the sun again .
- 5. These are a few of the open-air spirits ; the more domestic of their tribe gather within-doors , plentiful as swallows under southern eaves .