origin of ‘eavesdrop’ - word histories The noun eavesdrip, eavesdrop, was chiefly used with reference to the ancient custom or law which prohibited a proprietor from building at a less distance than two feet from the boundary of his land, lest he should injure his neighbour’s land by the water dripping from his eaves
Eavesdropping - Wikipedia Eavesdropping is the act of secretly or stealthily listening to the private conversation or communications of others without their consent in order to gather information