\Mew\, n. [AS. m?w, akin to D. meeuw, G. m["o]we, OHG. m?h,
Icel. m[=a]r.] (Zo["o]l.)
A gull, esp. the common British species ({Larus canus});
called also {sea mew}, {maa}, {mar}, {mow}, and {cobb}.

\Mew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mewed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Mewing}.] [OE. muen, F. muer, fr. L. mutare to change, fr.
movere to move. See {Move}, and cf. {Mew} a cage, {Molt}.]
To shed or cast; to change; to molt; as, the hawk mewed his
feathers.
      Nine times the moon had mewed her horns. --Dryden.

\Mew\, v. i.
To cast the feathers; to molt; hence, to change; to put on a
new appearance.
      Now everything doth mew, And shifts his rustic winter
      robe.                                    --Turbervile.

\Mew\, n. [OE. mue, F. mue change of feathers, scales, skin,
the time or place when the change occurs, fr. muer to molt,
mew, L. mutare to change. See 2d {Mew}.]
1. A cage for hawks while mewing; a coop for fattening fowls;
   hence, any inclosure; a place of confinement or shelter;
   -- in the latter sense usually in the plural.
         Full many a fat partrich had he in mewe. --Chaucer.
         Forthcoming from her darksome mew.    --Spenser.
         Violets in their secret mews.         --Wordsworth.
2. A stable or range of stables for horses; -- compound used
   in the plural, and so called from the royal stables in
   London, built on the site of the king's mews for hawks.

\Mew\, v. t. [From {Mew} a cage.]
To shut up; to inclose; to confine, as in a cage or other
inclosure.
      More pity that the eagle should be mewed. --Shak.
      Close mewed in their sedans, for fear of air. --Dryden.

\Mew\, v. i. [Of imitative origin; cf. G. miauen.]
To cry as a cat. [Written also {meaw}, {meow}.] --Shak.

\Mew\, n.
The common cry of a cat. --Shak.