clave* v also cleave [phonetics unavailable]. OED cleave v¹ 1.
   1 Of kindling, to cut or split; esp clave splits.
   [1786] 1792 CARTWRIGHT iii, 121 Tilsed was employed on carpenter's work, and the rest of the people in sawing and cleaving firewood. 1920 GRENFELL & SPALDING 35 [I had commanded one] to attend to this matter, and he had promptly departed, as I thought, to 'cleave the splits.' 1936 DULEY 194 With difficulty Joe Perry had cleaved some splits, and because they had no paper Uncle Seth had whittled some shavings with his knife. T 12-64 The piece of wood was clev. T 185-65 In the spring when they gave 'em wood to cleave, they used to break off the axe helves as fast as they'd mind to. P 245-67 Clavin' splits. P 245-67 'Cleave some junks.' This is the usual way of saying 'chop some wood.' C 68-21 Parents used to tell their children that they should not clave splits on Sunday. C 71-126 Clave un up—chop a piece of wood in half.
   2 To threaten to do someone harm.
   C 66-16 So help me, I'll cleave you in two. C 66-13 I'll cleave 'ee open
   3 To peel or slip off neatly.
   T 34/8-64 You take [the shim] and shove it, with the sap in the tree; you'd shove it around the rine, and the rine'd all cleave off o' the tree.

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