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

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

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