eave

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. opsä-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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Brow; ridge. [ Obs. ] “Eaves of the hill.” Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Eyelids or eyelashes. [ 1913 Webster ]

And closing eaves of wearied eyes. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Zoöl.). (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Eaves + drop. ] To stand under the eaves, near a window or at the door, of a house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to listen secretly to what is said in private. [ 1913 Webster ]

To eavesdrop in disguises. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a house, to listen; hence, a secret listener. [ 1913 Webster ]