mews

Everyday

1. (UK) A row of old stables in a small street or yard, often now turned into houses or flats; also the name of the little street: «a mews house». tree →
2. (verb form) Third person of «mew»: the cat mews, meaning it makes a soft crying sound. tree →
3. (old) A building where hunting hawks were kept, especially while they moulted. tree →
4. In old books, mews can mean a seagull, a bird that cries over the sea. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday British life, mews houses are found in cities like London; they were built for horses and carriages behind big houses. Many street names end in «Mews». In stories, a kitten «mews» when it is hungry or lonely. Phrases: «a mews house», «a cobbled mews», «the kitten mews».

Examples

• They live in a pretty mews house in London. tree →
• The mews used to be stables for horses. tree →
• The cobbled mews is closed to cars. tree →
• The tiny kitten mews for its mother. tree →
• Our address is 4 Stable Mews. tree →
• A mews was once where hawks were kept. tree →
• The kitten mewed and mewed until we fed it. tree →
• Many mews houses still have big old stable doors. tree →
• The great white sea-mews flew over her head, and screamed as the crows and daws screamed at home in the garden of the manor house. tree →

Note

For the place, «mews» is the same for one or many: «a mews», «two mews» (though «mewses» is also seen). «Mews» (cat sound) also spelled «meows» or «miaows». Homophone: «muse» (to think deeply; or a goddess of the arts). Not a maths word.