shiver definition

To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be shattered. "There shiver shafts upon shields thick." (Chaucer) "The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . . Would instantly shiver into millions of atoms." (Woodward)

1. One of the small pieces, or splinters, into which a brittle thing is broken by sudden violence; generally used in the plural. "All to shivers dashed."

2. A thin slice; a shive. "A shiver of their own loaf." "Of your soft bread, not but a shiver." (Chaucer)

3. <geology> A variety of blue slate.

4. A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.

5. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.

6. A spindle.

Origin: OE. Schivere, fr. Shive; cf. G. Schifer a splinter, slate, OHG. Scivere a splinter, Dan. & Sw. Skifer a slate. See Shive, and cf. Skever.

(01 Mar 1998)