Generic term for an official, esp. a royal official. The king's estates were administered by reeves. It was a reeve who in *ASC 787 rode out to meet the *Viking ships which turned up near Portland, Dorset, and was killed by them - the first recorded English victim of the Vikings. After 1066, the term is used of a village headman, the peasants' spokesman at the *manorial court. He cited the manor's customs, refuting demands by the lord's *bailiff or *steward. However, so reluctant were some men to accept the post that in some custom rolls it was noted that every holder of a *virgate could be compelled to accept. The reward was exemption from some or all labour services. The Latin term in the documents for the reeve was *praepositus, i.e. the one 'in command' or 'in front'; also Praefectus. The title of 'reeve' is to be found in the placename Reaveley in Northumbria. [< OldEngl. gerefa, refa = a high official, steward, reeve] -
Cf. Sheriff and Fabliau
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.