— eavesdropper , n.
/eevz"drop'/ , v. , eavesdropped, eavesdropping , n.
v.i.
1. to listen secretly to a private conversation.
v.t.
2. Archaic. to eavesdrop on.
n. Also, eavesdrip /eevz"drip'/ .
3. water that drips from the eaves.
4. the ground on which such water falls.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME evesdrope, evesdripe, OE yfesdrype; as v., prob. back formation from eavesdropper, late ME evisdroppyr, appar. lit., one who stands on the eavesdrop in order to listen to conversations inside the house; see EAVE, DROP, DRIP ]