sleave

1 of 2

noun

ˈslēv

archaic

: skein

… sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care …—

William Shakespeare

sleave

2 of 2

verb

sleaved; sleaving; sleaves

transitive verb

obsolete

: to separate (silk thread) into filaments

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English *sleven, from Old English -slǣfan to cut

First Known Use

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sleave was in 1591

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Sleaford

sleave

sleave silk

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sleave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleave. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 4 Nov 2025 - Definition revised

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sleave

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