Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†SLEIVE, v. Also sleave and reduced form slee. To slip (an animal's head) out of a halter or the like. Also fig. [sliv]Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
To slee the head, to slip the head out of the noose which confines cattle in the stall.Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. XI. 327:
To take off the bridle of a horse; as sleiving the horse's head.Ayr. 1871 J. Paterson Reminisc. 10:
To sleave their [horses] heads, and let them scamper away.Lnk. 1883 A. R. Fisher Poems 67:
Sly Fathom slees the head, man.
