▪ I. seave north.
(siːv)
Forms: 5, 9 seve, 5 seyfe, 5, 9 seive, 8 seave, 8–9 sieve, 6– seave, 9 seeave (see also Eng. Dial. Dict.).
[a. ON. sef (Sw. säf, Da. siv).]
A rush; also, a rushlight.
| 14.. Nominale in Wr.-Wülcker 712/9 Hic papirus, a seue [printed sene]. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Camden) 470 He began þe seiues graythe, And made a fournays for þe bell. 1483 Cath. Angl. 327/2 A Seyfe, iunccus. 1594 in Trans. Cumb. & Westm. Archæol. Soc. (1903) III. 152 None..shall mowe or sheare any seaves between Tailbothe and Sleddaile. 1684 Meriton Yorksh. Dial. 72 Then strike a Fire, and leet a Seave I Reed. 1777 Wallingfen Inclos. Act 21 Seaves, reeds, whinns, or sods. |
b. attrib., as † seave-busk (= bush), seave-candle, seave-light; seave-cap, the black-headed bunting.
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 327/2 A *Seyfebuske, iunccetum. |
| 1703 Thoresby Let. to Ray Philos. Lett. (1718) 336 Seaves, pill'd Rushes, of which they make *Seav Candles. |
| 1864 Atkinson Prov. Names Birds, *Seave-cap..Black-headed Bunting Emberiza Schœniclus. |
▪ II. seave, seaven
obs. ff. sieve n., seven.