Gerefa

Grefa, Refa. Sax. [from gerefen or reafen, to exact or take away.] In Saxop law. Greve, reve or reeve; a ministerial officer of high antijjuity in England; answering to the grave or graf {grafio,) of the early continental nations. The term was applied to various grades of officers, from the scyre-gerefa, shire-grefe or shire-reve, who had charge of the county, (and whose title and office have been perpetuated in the modern sheriff,) down to the tun-gerefa, or town-reeve, and lower. Spelman (voc. Gfrajio,) supposes it to have properly denoted an officer employed to collect taxes, or public dues, (ad jura fisealia exigenda.) 1 Spencers Chancery, 60. See Ghrafio, Ghreve. Reeve. A steward or superintendent. Sax, Evang, Matt, xx.

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