shive

¹ American  

[shahyv] / ʃaɪv /

noun

1. a sliver or fragment; splinter.

2. a thin plug, as of wood or cork, for stopping the bunghole of a cask or the mouth of a bottle.

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shive ² American  

[shiv, shahyv] / ʃɪv, ʃaɪv /

noun

1. a splinter or fragment of the husk of flax, hemp, etc.

2. boon.

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shive British  

/ ʃaɪv /

noun

1. a flat cork or bung for wide-mouthed bottles

2. an archaic word for slice

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Etymology

Origin of shive¹

1175–1225; Middle English; cognate with German Scheibe, Old Norse skīfa; akin to sheave ²

Origin of shive²

1475–85; earlier scyfe; cognate with dialectal Dutch schif, Middle Dutch scheve, German Schebe; akin to shiver ²

Example Sentences

“Pray you, sit down with us, Mr Ferris,” said she; “we shall not lack a shive for you.”

From Robin Tremayne A Story of the Marian Persecution by Holt, Emily Sarah

There was a poor fellow breakfasting in the shed at the same time; and he gave the woman a thick shive of his bread as she went away.

From Home-Life of the Lancashire Factory Folk during the Cotton Famine by Waugh, Edwin

The latter, in the latest discoveries of modern science, seem to have stolen a shive from the ancient loaf in the expectation that it would not be detected.

From Ancient and Modern Physics by Willson, Thomas E.

“You just seat yourselves there under the trees,” she ordered them, “and I’ll bring right out a shive off a loaf of bread, and a tot o’ tea for each of you.”

From John and Betty's History Visit by Williamson, Margaret

Come now, another shive of mutton? well, then, a piece o’ th’ pasty—do!

From For the Master's Sake A Story of the Days of Queen Mary by Petherick, Horace