Stupid question but...

[stovie]

...why are cleavers called cleavers? The plant, that is...

 

[Retired Member southey]

I belive it because of the type of cut they are used for, to cleave, as its used to cut bone rather than slicing meat

Re stovies edit above, Ahh! in that case i have no idea,I should have read the thread location,

 

[JonathanD]

Because cleave means to adhere closely; stick; cling . Which is what they do.

 

[British Red]

don't know. I suppose goose grass has some sense. As for sticky willy...........

 

[British Red]

aaahhh Mr D with a sensible answer

 

[stovie]

Because cleave means to adhere closely; stick; cling . Which is what they do.

I thought cleave meant the complete opposite...or is that a different spelling??? Suppose i'd better look it up...

 

[JonathanD]

I thought cleave meant the complete opposite...or is that a different spelling??? Suppose i'd better look it up...

'Cleave' has numerous meanings.

verb (used with object)
1. to split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, esp. along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.
2. to make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.
3. to penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.
4. to cut off; sever: to cleave a branch from a tree.
–verb (used without object)
5. to part or split, esp. along a natural line of division.
6. to penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually fol. by through ).

–verb (used without object), cleaved or ( Archaic ) clave; cleaved; cleav·ing.
1. to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually fol. by to ).
2. to remain faithful (usually fol. by to ): to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.

 

[Tadpole]

It means both to stick to, and to 'part from' or 'cut', the cling or stick meaning is older than the split or cleft meaning.

 

[stovie]

Okay...dont you just love the English language...one word two totally opposite meanings...Thanks JD you're spot on (left me OED at home)...and Red, Sticky Willy...I ask you...Sticky Burr was always my tag for it.

 

[shaggystu]

fuse is a very similar word that leads to just the same sort of confusion, if something's fused it's either burnt through or stuck together, i love our language

cheers

stuart

 

[British Red]

Its known as that - seriously

Google does not lie!

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st...7SUNC_en&redir_esc=&ei=fu2pTKuMPMa54gbt38juDQ

Red

 

[Toddy]

It's a wandering, winding willie of a plant, and it sticks to everything. So it's Sticky Willie

Cleave to or cleave from. So it's cleavers, not cleaved.

Sticky Willie is a band from not that far from here.
http://www.stickywillie.com/

cheers,
M

 

[stovie]

It's a wandering, winding willie of a plant, and it sticks to everything. So it's Sticky Willie

Cleave to or cleave from. So it's cleavers, not cleaved.


cheers,
M

So does the singular remain Cleavers?
I refuse to be drawn into the world of sticky willies...

 

[Toddy]

We call it sticky willie or if asked to be 'proper', Goosegrasss. I hadn't heard of it as cleavers until a few years ago.
Scot's Presbyterian schooling......."cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh", so I knew of the word in that meaning.
Right enough, I also knew it 'cos at the battle of Bannockburn Robert the Bruce held his ground against the heavily armoured English knight, neatly side stepped him at the last moment, rose up in his stirrups and he cleaved de Bohun from crown to nape straight through his helm with his axe. Totally different meaning.

cheers,
M

 

[British Red]

I refuse to be drawn into the world of sticky willies...

I think I have found a new signature line

 

[Paul_B]

I love the fact that you guys know the older meaning for cleave. I'm glad of that, it proves there is hope that our language will evolve but still keep some of the old about it.

The English language is one of the most complex tongues around. It is down to the huge vocabulary and the multiple, sometimes conflicting, meanings. I love to use precise English that has conficting meanings in a context that leads the listener one way but it also means the opposite. Precise English with imprecise meaning or context. Play on words.

I must admit I prefer the older meaning to cleve than the newer one to divide.

BTW I never knew the name for those viney plants with the sticky balls or burrs. To me they were always meant to stick on someones back without them realising as a kid. I still hven't grown up with that, still do it now. Was a good year for it too!

 

[delbach]

In Welsh it is known as Caci Mwnci,which means monkey poo.Ihave no idea why
Andrew

 

[Whittler Kev]

In Welsh it is known as Caci Mwnci,which means monkey poo.Ihave no idea why
Andrew

and yet another sig line for you Red

 

[Galemys]

It must be an old anglosaxon word: the dutch verb `kleven` (or the german equivalent `kleben`) means the same. The plant is called ´kleefkruid´ here in Holland, `the herb that sticks`

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Harvestman]

If the English language made sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.