Don’t Get Wet While You’re Eavesdropping

Hello,

Did you know we’re all spelling eaves incorrectly? I stumbled across that fact in “Humble Pie and Cold Turkey” by Caroline Taggart this summer. The eaves (the sticky-out bit of the roof would be my very technical definition on this one) had an s in Old English (yfesdrype, in case you’re curious) and the word was singular. As the word moved into Middle English it retained the s and everybody assumed that meant eaves were plural, but if you really think about it, you have one roof on your home and it only has one eave. Mind you, I wouldn’t fancy trying to convince an English teacher of that so maybe let’s stick with eaves in everyday conversation.

The spot under the eaves, outside the building, where rainwater was liable to drip on you from the roof became known as the eavesdrip, which is pretty logical. With time that mutated into eavesdrop (well, raindrops do drop as well as a drip). It was established by the mid 1400s. A person standing there would be well placed to overhear interior conversations and by the time Shakespeare wrote “Richard III” he had the king “play the eaves-dropper” to check on the loyalty of his troops before battle.

Until next time happy reading, writing, and wordfooling,

Grace (@Wordfoolery)

p.s. My latest book “Words Christmas Gave Us” is out now on Kindle. The paperback and hardback editions are coming later in September – watch this space for details of the online book launch on the 23rd of September – you’re all invited.