mew

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mǣw; akin to Old Norse mār gull Date: before 12th century gull; especially a small gull (Larus canus) of Eurasia and western North America II. verb Etymology: Middle English mewen, of imitative origin Date: 14th century intransitive verb to utter a mew or similar sound <

gulls mewed over the bay

> transitive verb to utter by mewing ; meow III. noun Date: 1596 meow IV. noun Etymology: Middle English mewe, from Anglo-French mue, muwe, from muer to change, molt, from Latin mutare to change — more at mutable Date: 14th century 1. an enclosure for trained hawks — usually used in plural 2. a place for hiding or retirement 3. plural but singular or plural in construction, chiefly British a. (1) stables usually with living quarters built around a court (2) living quarters adapted from such stables b. back street ; alley V. transitive verb Date: 15th century to shut up ; confine — often used with up