mew 1
/myooh/ , n.
1. the tiny, high-pitched sound a cat or kitten makes.
2. the characteristic sound a gull makes.
v.i.
3. to make a mew or emit a similar sound.
[ 1275-1325; ME meuen; imit. ]
mew 2
/myooh/ , n.
a small gull, Larus canus, of Eurasia and northwestern North America. Also called mew gull .
[ bef. 900; ME; OE maewe; c. G Müwe ]
mew 3
/myooh/ , n.
1. a cage for hawks, esp. while molting.
2. a pen in which poultry is fattened.
3. a place of retirement or concealment.
4. mews , ( usually used with a sing. v. ) Chiefly Brit.
a. (formerly) an area of stables built around a small street.
b. a street having small apartments converted from such stables.
v.t.
5. Archaic. to shut up in or as in a mew; confine; conceal (often fol. by up ).
[ 1325-75; ME mue muer to molt. See MEW 4 ]
mew 4
— mewer , n.
/myooh/ , v.t. , v.i.
to shed (feathers); to molt.
[ 1325-75; ME mewen muer to molt mutare to change ]