Sleave (slēv), n. [Cf. Dan.
slöif, a knot loop, Sw. slejf, G. schleife a
knot, sliding knot, and E. slip, v.i.] (a)
The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread.
(b) Silk not yet twisted; floss; -- called also
sleave silk.
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of
care.
Shak.Sleave, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Sleaved (slēvd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Sleaving.] To separate, as threads; to
divide, as a collection of threads; to sley; -- a weaver's
term.