Sleave

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sleave \Sleave\ (sl[=e]v), n. [Cf. Dan. sl["o]if, a knot loop,
     Sw. slejf, G. schleife a knot, sliding knot, and E. slip,
     v.i.]
     (a) The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread.
     (b) Silk not yet twisted; floss; -- called also {sleave
         silk}.


         [1913 Webster]
  
               Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care.
                                                    --Shak.
         [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sleave \Sleave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sleaved} (sl[=e]vd); p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Sleaving}.]
     To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of
     threads; to sley; -- a weaver's term.
     [1913 Webster]