greave

Meanings

1. A bush; a tree; a grove.
2. A bough; a branch.

1. A ditch or trench.

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

1. To clean (a ship's bottom); to grave.

Etymology

From Middle English greve, from Old English grǣfe, grǣfa (“bush, bramble, grove, thicket, copse, brush-wood (for burning), fuel”), probably related to Proto-Germanic *grōbō (“ditch, hole”). Cognate with Scots greve, greave (“grove”). Compare also Proto-Germanic *grainiz (“twig”), of unknown origin, whence Old Norse grein (“branch, bough”). Closely related to Old English grāf, grāfa (“grove”). See grove.