screeve

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /skɹiːv/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːv

Etymology 1

In view of the slang nature of the term, probably from Polari screeve (“write”), from Irish scríobh, eventually from Latin scrībō (“write”). Doublet of shrive.

Verb

screeve (third-person singular simple present screeves, present participle screeving, simple past and past participle screeved)

1. (obsolete, UK, slang) To write.
2. (obsolete, UK, slang) To draw with chalks on a pavement or sidewalk.
3. (obsolete, UK, slang) To write begging letters.

Noun

screeve (plural screeves)

1. (obsolete, UK, slang) A begging letter.

References

• “Screeve” in [John Camden Hotten], The Slang Dictionary […], 5th edition, London: Chatto and Windus, 1874, page 280.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Georgian მწკრივი (mc̣ḳrivi, “row, series”).

Noun

screeve (countable and uncountable, plural screeves)

1. (grammar) In Georgian grammar, a combination of tense, aspect and mood.