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, give me leave to help you to another shive of the beef.

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

Only look you—” “A shive of beef, Sister?” interpolated Rachel, who had no notion of allowing the theoretical to take precedence of the practical.

From Clare Avery A Story of the Spanish Armada 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

I’ll say aught you want me, and I don’t care what it is—that the moon’s made o’ green cheese, if you will, and I’d a shive last night for supper.

From The King's Daughters by Holt, Emily Sarah

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

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