When listening to a conversation, why is that called eavesdropping?

Question

just wondering.

Answer 1

It is an old english expression meaning to listen in to a conversation that you are not part of, and not invited or welcome to listen to. It originates from old english houses with thatched roofs. They had big eaves overhanging the walls, with a gap at the top of the wall. A person on the outside could stand just under the eaves and listen to people talking inside, undetected.

Answer 2

Sorry to directly contradict nickname4anne, but the term eavesdropping was used in Anglo-Saxon England (a little before the foundation of NY). The eavesdrop is outside the house (not in the roof) where the rain drips off the roof. An eavesdropper would stand under the eaves and listen to the conversations indoors. If caught and eavesdropper was punished by a fine (it was classed as a nuisance rather than a crime).

Answer 3

The eavesdrop or eavesdrip is the width of ground around a house or building which receives the rain water dropping from the eaves. By an ancient Anglo-Saxon law, a landowner was forbidden to erect any building at less than 2 feet from the boundary of his land, and was thus prevented from causing damage to his neighbours house or property from the dripping of water from his eaves. The law of Eavesdrip had its equivalent in the Roman stillicidium, which prohibited building up to the very edge of an estate. Aancient Anglo-Saxon law prohibited eavesdropping. The term eavesdropping was derived from Saxon custom as applying to a person who pries into the business of others or listens to private conversations. By common law, eavesdropping was termed a nuisance and the he offence was punishable by fine. Though there is still a common law offence of eavesdropping, there is no modern example of a prosecution for that offence.

Answer 4

I think that there is a difference between hearing a conversation and eavesdropping. When you are in a public place, for example, a restaurant, you may well hear conversations around you. It is part of the set of sounds in your environment that you cannot help but hear.
When you eavesdrop, you are making a concerted effort to listen to what someone is saying for the purpose of gathering information or simply out of curiosity. Often, when people eavesdrop, they place themselves in close proximity to where the conversation is taking place.

Answer 5

Eavesdropping was already prohibited by ancient Anglo-Saxon law. From the Saxon custom arose the term eavesdropping, as being one who pries into the business of others or listens to private conversations. By common law, an eavesdropper was regarded as a nuisance. The offense was punishable by fine. Though the offense of eavesdropping still exists in common law, there is no modern instance of a prosecution or indictment.

Answer 6

That is a really interesting question. I looked it up in my Dictionary of English Etymology and it says: 'one who listens under walls to hear gossip, secret listener.'
The eave is the part of the roof that hangs over the walls. I imagine if walls are thin you can stand under an eave and listen to a conversation. If you are listening to a conversation - you are eavesdropping.

Answer 7

It is called eavesdropping when one is being nosy and listening in on other peoples conversation that you are not included in.
This is a very rude thing to do. Hope this is helpful, God bless

Answer 8

in the 'olden days' the warmest place in the house was just under the thatched roof (heat rises etc?). That part of the house is the eaves..Animals used to sleep up there but If someone had been hiding up there to spy they could fall down ie eavesdropping.

Answer 9

I recently visited Speke Hall, an Elizabethan mansion in Lancashire which used to be owned by a Catholic family at the time. We were shown several holes under the roof eaves, one was to look outside to see who was coming to the house and therefore have time to conceal a priest in the priest hole if it was a foe at the door. Others were for listening to the conversations in the house without being seen.

Answer 10

Hanging from the eaves of a building - listening to conversations through adjacent windows . Possibly a " Harking Tom ".