cleavers

noun

cleav·​ers ˈklē-vərz 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: an annual bedstraw (Galium aparine) having many stalked white flowers and stems covered with curved prickles

also : any of several related plants

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Keep in Mind: This sharpener was designed for standard knives and won't work on filet knives or ultra-fine cleavers. —Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2023

Others wield stone cleavers to slice through large fruits. —Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 18 Dec. 2019

This sharpener can accommodate chef’s knives, paring knives, boning knives, and meat cleavers. —Laura Denby, Peoplemag, 6 Oct. 2022

This year my diet has included chickweed, dead nettle, bittercress, dock, garlic pennycress, wild onion, brassica, wood sorrel, cleavers, dandelions, lamb’s quarters, day lily shoots, sochan, purslane and poke (amply boiled to remove toxins). —Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022

Brandishing bloodstained cleavers, two men warn Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about inflaming religious tensions in India and vow to avenge acts of blasphemy. —Niha Masih, Washington Post, 29 June 2022

Eventually, a sweet clover, Bloody Butcher corn and black bee honey cake dressed with calendulas appeared, along with steaming cups of Spring Equinox tea, a custom blend of nettle, cleavers, dandelion leaf and Plantago that Coleman conceived. —New York Times, 11 May 2022

And sharpening knives and cleavers for the local butcher. —John Anderson, WSJ, 4 Nov. 2021

In the office, two cleavers are stuck forebodingly into the wall, an installation by Barry Le Va, the influential sculptor who died this year. —New York Times, 14 June 2021

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English clivre, alteration of Old English clife burdock, cleavers; akin to Old English clifian

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above