Sleave

slēv, n. the ravelled, knotty part of silk thread: ( Shak. ) flo -silk.— v.t. to separate, as threads:— pr.p. sleav′ing; pa.p. sleaved. [Cf. Dan. slöife , a loose knot, Sw. slejf , a knot of ribbon, Ger. schleife , a loop.]