Neve

Origin

From Middle English neve, neave, from Old English nefa ("nephew, grandson"), from Proto-Germanic *nefô ("nephew"), from Proto-Indo-European *nepoter-, *népōts, *nepo- ("grandchild, sister's son"). Cognate with West Frisian neef ("cousin, nephew"), Dutch neef ("nephew"), Low German neve ("nephew"), German Neffe ("nephew"), Icelandic nefi ("kinsman"). Compare nift. See also nephew.

Full definition of neve

Noun

1. (rare or obsolete) Nephew.
• 1920, Wilhelm Robert Richard Pinger, Laurence Sterne and Goethe:Iwein considers it his right and duty to avenge his neve, and is much exercised when Artûs proposes to go to the well with his full strength, for he apprehends that the king will give the distinction of the combat to his sister's son Gâwein.
2. (rare or obsolete) A male cousin.
• 1988, Michael Tepper, New World immigrants:Still another passenger on the same ship was Gysbert Philips from Velthuysen, 24 years old, a "neve" ( nephew or cousin) of Cornelia Wynkoop.
3. (rare or obsolete) A grandson.
4. (rare) A spendthrift.

Related terms

• nift
• nevvy, neffy