2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Eaves \Eaves\, n. pl. [OE. evese, pl. eveses, AS. efese eaves,
brim, brink; akin to OHG. obisa, opasa, porch, hall, MHG.
obse eaves, Icel. ups, Goth. ubizwa porch; cf. Icel.
upsar-dropi, OSw. ops["a]-drup water dropping from the eaves.
Probably from the root of E. over. The s of eaves is in
English regarded as a plural ending, though not so in Saxon.
See {Over}, and cf. {Eavesdrop}.]
1. (Arch.) The edges or lower borders of the roof of a
building, which overhang the walls, and cast off the water
that falls on the roof.
2. Brow; ridge. [Obs.] ``Eaves of the hill.'' --Wyclif.
3. Eyelids or eyelashes.
And closing eaves of wearied eyes. --Tennyson.
{Eaves board} (Arch.), an arris fillet, or a thick board with
a feather edge, nailed across the rafters at the eaves of
a building, to raise the lower course of slates a little,
or to receive the lowest course of tiles; -- called also
{eaves catch} and {eaves lath}.
{Eaves channel}, {Eaves gutter}, {Eaves trough}. Same as
{Gutter}, 1.
{Eaves molding} (Arch.), a molding immediately below the
eaves, acting as a cornice or part of a cornice.
{Eaves swallow} (Zo["o]l.).
(a) The cliff swallow; -- so called from its habit of
building retort-shaped nests of mud under the eaves of
buildings. See {Cliff swallow}, under {Cliff}.
(b) The European swallow.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
eaves
n : the overhang at the lower edge of a roof