mæw

Old English

Alternative forms

• mēu, mēw, mēau, mēaw

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *maiwiz, a byform of Proto-Germanic *maiwaz. Cognate with West Frisian meau, miuw, Old Saxon mēu (Middle Low German meve, from which German Möwe), Dutch meeuw, Old Norse már, mór.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mæːw/

Noun

mǣw m

1. gull, seagull

   On gōdne dæġ ic ġefō crabban and telle mǣwas.

   On a good day, I catch crabs and count seagulls.

Declension

Declension of mæw (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	mǣw	mǣwas
accusative	mǣw	mǣwas
genitive	mǣwes	mǣwa
dative	mǣwe	mǣwum

Descendants

• Middle English: mewe, mawe, meau, mowe
  • English: mew (archaic)
  • Scots: maw (through confluence with Old Norse form)
  • → Old French: maoe, mave, mauve
    • French: mauve
    • Old French: moette
      • French: mouette