shave (1)

[SHAVE, v.] 1. The act of shaving; a cutting off of the beard. 2. A thin slice; a shaving. 3. An instrument with a long blade, and a handle at each end, for shaving hoops, .; also, a spokeshave. 4. The act of pa ing close to or along; the act of grazing or pa ing so close as nearly to touch. 5. Hence, an exceedingly narrow mi , failure, or escape. (Often with close or near .) "It was a desperately close shave when Mr. Graham decided for Deliverance."- Field , April 4, 1885. 6. A false report or alarm started, with a view to deceive; a trick, a cheat. "According to camp reports, or camp shaves, as they are more expre ively termed." -London Morning Chron icle.