[sliv.er] n [ME slivere, fr. sliven to slice off, fr. OE -slifan; akin to OE -slaefan to cut] (14c) 1 a: a long slender piece cut or torn off: splinter b: a small and narrow portion "a ~ of land" c: particle, scrap "not a ~ of evidence"
2: an untwisted strand or rope of textile fiber produced by a carding or combing machine and ready for drawing, roving, or spinning
[2]sliv.er vb sliv.ered ; sliv.er.ing vt (1605): to cut into slivers: splinter ~ vi: to become split into slivers