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

See Examples For:

shive

Ray has, “’Tis safe taking a shive out of a cut loaf.”

From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thiselton-Dyer, Thomas Firminger

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

“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

“It is easy to steal a shive from a cut loaf.”

From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thiselton-Dyer, Thomas Firminger

“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