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.
Quotation dates: 1825-1883
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†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.
