The Reve was a sclendre colerik man.
His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. This passage describes the Reeve as being slender with long stick-like legs. His beard is shaved close and he has haircut like a priest, the top of his head being cut short in front. He was also “choleric” or bad tempered and irritable. His physical appearance is meant to make him look harmless, which he definitely is not.