*sleav*

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleaved p. pr. & vb. n. Sleaving. ] To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley; -- a weaver's term. [ 1913 Webster ]