cleavers

American  

[klee-verz] / ˈkli vərz /

noun

plural

cleavers

1. a North American plant, Galium aparine, of the madder family, having short, hooked bristles on the stems and leaves and bearing very small white flowers.

2. any of certain related species.

---

cleavers British  

/ ˈkliːvəz /

noun

1. Also called: goosegrass.   hairif.   sticky willie.  (functioning as singular) a Eurasian rubiaceous plant, Galium aparine, having small white flowers and prickly stems and fruits

---

Etymology

Origin of cleavers

before 1000; Middle English clivre, Old English clife burdock ( -re probably by association with Middle English clivres (plural) claws, or with the agent noun from cleven to cleave ¹, whence the modern spelling)

Example Sentences

Cleavers thumped in the background as I got up to put in my usual order: an al pastor burrito and an horchata.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2023

The Cleavers represented the classic white middle class family of the Eisenhower era, while Eddie represented danger in a ’50s kind of way — he chewed gum and wore a jean jacket.

From New York Times • May 18, 2020

For having family, even if the family is atypical, rendering nothing similar to the Beaver’s Cleavers or Rudy Huxtable’s “Cosby.”

From Washington Times • Nov. 22, 2018

REWARD: Name the Cleavers briefly considered for their younger son.

From Washington Post • Feb. 8, 2018

The Ricardos and the Mertzes had dinner with the Simpsons and the Flanderses at the home of the Cleavers.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner