Eavesdrop started off literally: first it referred to the water that fell from the eaves of a house, then it came to mean the ground where that water fell. Eventually, eavesdropper described someone who stood within the eavesdrop of a house to overhear a conversation inside.
When did eavesdrop become a word?
This noun dates back to the 9th century and was originally eavesdrip, from the nouns eaves and drip; it was afterwards refashioned after the noun drop.
What does the phrase eavesdropping mean?
: to listen secretly to private conversation. eavesdrop. intransitive verb. eaves·drop. eavesdropped; eavesdropping.
