Cleaver

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈklivÉš/
• Rhymes: -iːvÉ™(r)

Origin

From cleave + -er, cf. Middle English clevere.

Noun

1. A squarish, heavy knife used by butchers for hacking through bones etc
• 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin HoodWhen he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where butchers stood, and took up his inn in the best place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them together, he trolled aloud in merry tones:...

Related terms

• cleave