Dictionary.net

In Saxon law. Greve, reve, or reeve; a ministerial officer of high antiquityin England; answering to the grave or graf (gra/io) of the early continental nations. Theterm was applied to various grades of officers, from the sci/re-gerefa, shirc-grefe, orshire-rcve, who had charge of the county, (and whose title and office have beenperpetuated in the modern "sheriff,") down to the tun-gerefa, or town-reeve, andlower. Burrill.