>> >In Old New York, a few streets that were originally merely access to
>> >the carriage-houses behind the mansions -- such as those facing
>> >Washington Square on the north -- where the carriage houses have been
>> >turned to other uses, such as dwellings -- are called "mews."
>> >Washington Mews is between Washington Square North and 8th St.

>> This "mews" is Brit, too. Indeed, the Royal Mews still houses
>> carriages, and very likely motor cars.

>Though originally it must have housed falcons and hawks, and maybe the
>old cadger slept there.  Without evidence, I'm inclined to doubt that
>the ones in New York were ever mews in the original sense.