- sieve (n.)
- Old English sife "sieve," from Proto-Germanic *sibi (cf. Middle Dutch seve, Dutch zeef, Old High German sib, German Sieb), of unknown origin. Related to sift. Sieve and shears formerly were used in divinations.
- sieve (v.)
- late 15c., from sieve (n.). Related: Sieved; sieving.