| Eaves | n. pl. [ OE. evese, pl. eveses, AS. efese eaves, brim, brink; akin to OHG. obisa, opasa, porch, hall, MHG. obse eaves, Icel. ups, Goth. ubizwa porch; cf. Icel. upsar-dropi, OSw. opsä-drup water dropping from the eaves. Probably from the root of E. over. The s of eaves is in English regarded as a plural ending, though not so in Saxon. See Over, and cf. Eavesdrop. ] 1. (Arch.) The edges or lower borders of the roof of a building, which overhang the walls, and cast off the water that falls on the roof. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Brow; ridge. [ Obs. ] “Eaves of the hill.” Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Eyelids or eyelashes. [ 1913 Webster ] And closing eaves of wearied eyes. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]
Eaves board (Arch.), an arris fillet, or a thick board with a feather edge, nailed across the rafters at the eaves of a building, to raise the lower course of slates a little, or to receive the lowest course of tiles; -- called also eaves catch and eaves lath. --
Eaves channel,
Eaves gutter,
Eaves trough. Same as Gutter, 1. --
Eaves molding (Arch.), a molding immediately below the eaves, acting as a cornice or part of a cornice. --
Eaves swallow (Zoöl.). (a) The cliff swallow; -- so called from its habit of building retort-shaped nests of mud under the eaves of buildings. See Cliff swallow, under Cliff. (b) The European swallow. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Eavesdrop | v. i. [ Eaves + drop. ] To stand under the eaves, near a window or at the door, of a house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to listen secretly to what is said in private. [ 1913 Webster ] To eavesdrop in disguises. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Eavesdropping | n. (Law) The habit of lurking about dwelling houses, and other places where persons meet for private intercourse, secretly listening to what is said, and then tattling it abroad. The offense is indictable at common law. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ] |
