ORIGIN OF THE WORD “ MEW.” 65 
A question presently solved by Tranio, who says :-— 
“ And therefore has he closely sew’d her up, 
Because she will not be annoy’d with suitors.” 
The word “mew,” derived from the old French “ sz,” 
signifies a change, or moult, when birds and other animals 
cast their feathers, hair, or horns. Hence Latham 
observes that “the mew is that place, whether it be 
abroad or in the house, where you set down your 
hawk during the time she raiseth or reproduceth her 
feathers.” 
It was necessary to take great care of a hawk in her 
mewing time. In “The Gentleman’s Academie,” edited 
by Gervase Markham, 1595, there are several sections on 
the mewing of hawks, from one of which it may be learnt 
that the best time to commence is in the beginning of 
Lent ; and if well kept, the bird will be mewed, that is, 
moulted, by the beginning of August. 
“Forthcoming from her darksome mew.” 
Faerie Queene, Book I. Canto v. 20. 
The Royal hawks were kept at the mews at Charing 
Cross during many reigns (according to Stowe, from the 
time of Richard II, in 1377), but they were removed by 
Henry VIII., who converted the place into stables, The 
name, however, confirmed by the usage of so long a period, 
remained to the building, although, after the hawks were 
K 
