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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHEEVE, n. The woody part of flax. Now only dial. in Eng. [ʃi:v]Cai. 1891 D. Stephen Gleanings 62:
In the preparation of the material it [flax] was beaten or thrashed, to separate the valuable fibres from the husks or “sheeves ”.

[Cf. Show, Sheave, note, and M.L.Ger. scheve, a slice, splinter.]

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