carven.
An act or stroke of Carving. See also carf n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > [noun]
bita1000
kerfc1000
slittingc1175
carving?c1225
chop1362
cuttinga1398
hacking1398
scissure?a1425
garsingc1440
racing?a1450
incision1474
secting1507
raze1530
chopping1548
scotching1551
hackling1564
slashing1596
carbonadoing1599
kinsing1599
insection1653
secation1656
scission1676
gash1694
inciding1694
haggling1761
cut1808
shear1809
carve1888
1888 N.E.D. at Carve Mod. Give it a carve.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
carvev.
/kɑːv/, U.S. /kɑrv/ I. Generally: to cut or slash.† 1. † b. With various complements, as of kerven, to cut off; to carve (a limb) from any one; to carve asunder, to carve in two, to carve in or to pieces; to carve (a knight) out of his armour. Obsolete.† c. figurative. Obsolete (with influence of other senses).† d. intransitive or absol. Obsolete.† 2. transitive. To cleave (as by cutting). Obsolete.† 3.
a. transitive. To cut v.: formerly the ordinary word for that action in all its varieties.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > cut [verb (transitive)]
snithec725
carvec1000
cutc1275
slitc1275
hag1294
ritc1300
chop1362
slash1382
cut and carvea1398
flash?a1400
flish?a1400
slenda1400
race?a1425
raise?a1425
razea1425
scotch?c1425
ochec1440
slitec1450
ranch?a1525
scorchc1550
scalp1552
mincea1560
rash?1565
beslash1581
fent1589
engrave1590
nick1592
snip1593
carbonado1596
rescide1598
skice1600
entail1601
chip1609
wriggle1612
insecate1623
carbonate1629
carbonade1634
insecta1652
flick1676
sneg1718
snick1728
slot1747
sneck1817
tame1847
bite-
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > detach [verb (transitive)] > cut off
becarveOE
carvec1000
hewc1000
shredc1275
cuta1300
chapc1325
cleavec1330
off-shearc1330
withscore1340
to cut offc1380
colea1400
slivea1400
to score awayc1400
abscisea1500
discidea1513
sharea1529
off-trenchc1530
off-hewc1540
pare1549
detrench1553
slice?1560
detrunk1566
sneck1578
resect1579
shred1580
curtail1594
off-chop1594
lop?1602
disbranch1608
abscind1610
snip1611
circumcise1613
desecate1623
discerpa1628
amputate1638
absciss1639
prescind1640
notch1820
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Mark (Corpus Cambr.) v. 5 Hine sylfne mid stanum ceorfende.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 87 To keruen þat fel biforen on his strenende lime.
c1386 G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale 159 Ther he with throte ykoruen lay.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7241 Quils sampson slepped..His hare sco kerf.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 40 Quen corne is coruen with crokez kene.
a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 765 in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 325 With brede y-coruyn.
a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 40 Kerve appuls overtwert and cast þerin.
1480 W. Caxton Descr. Brit. 45 They wolde..pricke and kerue her owne bodyes.
1560 ed. of Chaucer's Boeth. i. 198 b/2 They..corven and renten my clothes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out of [verb (transitive)]
to come out of ——lOE
to carve (a knight) out ofc1405
eliminatea1657
c1000 Ælfric Leviticus viii. 20 Hig curfon ðone ram eall to sticceon.
c1025 Anglo-Saxon Chron. anno 1014 He cearf of heora handa and heora nosa.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1810) 560 Sir Willam Mautrauers Carf him of fet & honde.
c1325 Chron. Eng. 757 in J. Ritson Anc. Eng. Metrical Romanceës (1802) II. 301 Hys legges hy corven of anon.
1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 244 Þe dede body þe[i] britten on four quarters corn.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Hosea xiv. 1 Wymmen with chijld of it ben coruen out.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1836 Tho was he coruen out of his harneys.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 4223 Laces and stringes he kerue on twoo.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. lv/1 He carf hym a sondre in the myddes.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 9468 He karve hit of cleane.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 9832 He kylles our knightes, kerues hom in sonder.
ΚΠ
c1230 Hali Meid. 17 Þeo þat habbið fram ham icoruen flesches lustes.
138. J. Wyclif Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 231 A sworde sharpe..to kerve awey synne.
c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 467 His estate fortune fro him carf.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > cut [verb (intransitive)]
carve?c1225
rivec1275
shearc1275
cutc1400
racea1413
incise?1541
slash1548
slive1558
hackle1577
haggle1577
slice1606
snipa1680
chip1844
bite1849
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 281 Ȝef þeaxe necurue. ne spitel stef ne dulue..hwa kepte ham to halden.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4066 Þai corwen þurch liuer & þurch lunge.
1430 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy ii. xi Ye lyue yt carueth through the centre.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. v. 217 Onto hys chyn the edge did carvin doun.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 6674 He..Corve euyn at the kyng with a kene sword.
e. transitive (slang). To slash (a person) with a knife or razor; esp. to carve (a person) up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > cut > with razor
chiv1725
razor1878
carve1929
chivvy1959
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > use of knives > stab with knife [verb (transitive)] > cut with knife or razor
chiv1725
carve1929
1929 D. Hammett Dain Curse xi. 113 The man had..stood..waiting to carve me when I came out; and my fall had saved me, making him miss me with the blade.
1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock iii. i. 98 They just meant to carve him up, but a razor slipped.
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad v. 65 He feared that they would ‘carve him up’.
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad xiv. 157 Carve him with a razor.
1960 M. Spark Ballad of Peckham Rye ix. 188 We got to carve up that boy one of these days.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > cleave or split [verb (transitive)]
to-cleavec888
cleavea1100
forcleavec1290
shidec1315
rivec1330
sheara1340
carvec1374
slivea1400
thrusche1483
porfend1490
splet1530
share?1566
spleet1585
splint1591
split1595
diverberate1609
fissure1656
spall1841
balkanize1942
c1374 G. Chaucer Former Age 21 No ship yit karf the wawes grene.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1547 As a coltour in clay cerues þo forȝes.
c1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) ii. xvii. 56 a A great hyl..carf on twain, Not farre asyde from the towne.
1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. §2. 170 The filing of iron..almost all men..abhorre to heare..for that the aire so carued, punisheth and fretteth the heart.
a. To circumcise.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > cleanness (ceremonial) > circumcision > perform circumcision [verb (transitive)]
umbeclipc1175
umbeshearc1175
umbecarvea1240
sheara1300
circumcisea1325
circumcide1340
skina1400
carvec1420
excise1634
c1420 Circumcision in Tundale's Vis. 86 The chylde was corve therwith.
b. To castrate (a cock).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping birds > poultry-keeping > rear poultry [verb (transitive)] > castrate
carve1586
caponize1654
capon-
1586 T. Bright Treat. Melancholie xxxix. 259 Generally of foule the carued is better, then the other. Of beastes the gelded haue preferment.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 280 If they be once carued and made capons they crow no more.
1678 A. Littleton Linguæ Latinæ Liber Dictionarius To carve as cockrels are carved.
4. To cut (a way or passage). Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > fashion, shape, or form > form by cutting, pounding, tearing, rubbing, etc.
hewc900
smitec1275
tailc1400
carve1490
tear1597
wear1597
to work out1600
draw1610
to carve outa1616
effringe1657
shear1670
pare1708
sned1789
whittle1848
to rip up1852
slice1872
chop1874
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (transitive)] > through or over obstacles > by cutting
carve1490
to carve outa1616
hack1781
fray1849
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxvii. 97 The shippes..carfe waie in the water.
1813 Ld. Byron Giaour (new ed.) 37 To such let others carve their way.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. xxiii. 232 The axe was indispensable to carve our path through the hummocks.
1865 J. G. Holland Plain Talks iii. 115 It is by work that man carves his way to that measure of power.
II. To cut artistically or ornamentally.
5. transitive.
a. To hew, cut, or sculpture (any solid figure, an image, out of stone, in ivory, etc.); to make or shape artistically by cutting.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > sculpt or carve [verb (transitive)] > an image or design
carveOE
gravec1000
pill1535
engrave1542
scrieve1542
chip1711
whittle1848
chip-carve1903
OE Dream of Rood 66 Ongunnon him þa moldern wyrcan beornas on banan gesyhðe; curfon hie ðæt of beorhtan stane, gesetton hie ðæron sigora wealdend.
c1420 Chron. Vilod. 292 He..carff welle ymagus and peynted bothe.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. xl. C Morouer shal the ymage maker..carue therout an ymage.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Pygmalion in Fables 165 And carv'd in Iv'ry such a Maid, so fair.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud viii. in Maud & Other Poems 32 An angel watching an urn Wept over her, carved in stone.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 207 Each column has been carved out of a single block of green marble.
b. To fashion (a material) into some shape by cutting, chiselling, or sculpturing.
ΚΠ
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Wisd. xiii. 13 He carueth it [wood] diligently..and..fashioneth it after the similitude of a man.
1692 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. v. 26 Had Dinocrates really carved Mount Athos into a Statue of Alexander the Great.
6.
a. To cut or engrave figures, either in relief or intaglio, on (in, into) a surface.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > sculpt or carve [verb (transitive)] > an image or design > on a surface
carvea1325
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > sculpt or carve [verb (transitive)] > a material
carve1542
emboast1575
insculpturea1785
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2700 He carf in two gummes of pris Two likenesses.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 132 With Poules wyndow coruen on his shoos.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 219/1 Thistory of her was..entayled & coruen in the sepulcre.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes sig. 332v An other [chaire of estate] with whippes kerued in it.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 9 Carue on euery Tree, The faire, the chaste, and vnexpressiue shee. View more context for this quotation
1644 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce (ed. 2) 45 To carve upon his flesh the mark of that strict and pure covnant.
c1800 R. Southey Retrospect Some idle hind Carves his rude name within a sapling's rind.
1817 C. Wolfe Burial Sir J. Moore in Edinb. Monthly Mag. June 278/1 We carved not a line, we raised not a stone.
b. to cover or adorn (wood, stone, etc.) with figures so cut on or in the surface.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > sculpt or carve [verb (transitive)] > decorate with sculpture or carving
carvec1384
sculpturea1660
insculp1665
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 1295 Which [gate] that so wel corven was.
c1394 P. Pl. Crede 161 Þe pileres weren..queynteli i-coruen wiþ curiouse knottes.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ciii/2 To Carue wood, insculpere.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings vi. 29 Hee carued all the walles of the house round about with carued figures of Cherubims. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 90 Nor Box..Smooth-grain'd..Which curious Hands may kerve . View more context for this quotation
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 76 Carv'd in such a manner, as to resemble a piece of wainscot.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Palace of Art (rev. ed.) in Poems (new ed.) I. 145 A million wrinkles carved his skin.
1875 H. W. Longfellow Pandora v Yon oaken chest, carven with figures.
1883 ‘G. Lloyd’ Ebb & Flow II. 84 Sarcophagi carved with old Christian emblems.
7. intransitive or absol. To cut figures or designs; to practise the sculptor's or engraver's art.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > sculpt or carve [verb (intransitive)]
carve1567
sculpt1864
sculp1889
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 12v Kaman the stone..is easie to be engrauen and carued in.
1591 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso xxxiii. ii. 268 He that carues and drawes with equall praise.
1841 R. W. Emerson Art in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 356 We carve and paint, or we behold what is carved and painted.
1858 W. E. Gladstone Stud. Homer I. 14 Where other poets sketch, Homer draws; and where they draw he carves.
III. To cut into portions, and similar uses.† 13. figurative (with reference to speech) Schmidt suggests ‘To show great courtesy and affability’. Obsolete.
8.
a. intransitive. To cut up meat at table. †to carve to: to serve, ‘help’ (any one at a meal).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > prepare meat [verb (intransitive)] > carve
carvea1300
the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [verb (transitive)] > serve person
servec1275
to serve forth1381
rewarda1495
to carve toa1533
to serve in1629
help1688
a1300 K. Horn 233 Tech him..Biuore me to kerue, And of the cupe serue.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 100 He..carf biforn his fader at the table.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Ordre of Chyualry (1926) ii. 21 Euery man that wylle come to knyghthode hym behoueth to lerne in his yongthe to kerue at the table.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) lxvii. sig. Qiii There Gouernar carued to the lady ryght goodly with his knyfe.
1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 276 Giue them from your owne, but doe not carue them from anothers trencher.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iii. v. sig. R5v (heading) Upon his being Carv'd to at a Feast.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. iii. 56 A Bit of Meat..out of which I carved for my self.
1751 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 11 Feb. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1681 A man who tells you gravely that he cannot carve.
1868 Queen Victoria Jrnl. 148 General Grey and Lady Churchill carved.
b. transitive e.g. to carve a fowl, to carve a joint, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > dress animals for food [verb (transitive)] > carve
shearc1330
unlacec1400
smitea1500
carve1529
to cut up1574
cuta1616
1529 J. Frith Pistle Christen Reader viii. sig. Miv Men to cerve his [sc. the Pope's] mossels.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. i. 153 A calues head & a capon, the which if I doe not carue most curiously, say my kniffe's naught.
1616 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliad ix, in Whole Wks. Homer 125 Till I had..karu'd thee tenderst meate.
1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate III. ii. 41 Captain Aylmer..would have..carved the roast fowl with much more skill.
9. figurative.† b. transitive. To apportion at discretion, to assign as one's portion or lot, to take at one's pleasure.
a. intransitive. To help or serve (oneself or others) at one's own discretion, to do at one's pleasure, indulge oneself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > taken [verb (intransitive)] > take at will or pleasure
raimc1300
to be one's own carver1578
carve1596
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > seek or look after one's own interest [verb (intransitive)] > indulge oneself
carve1596
indulgea1718
ego-trip1969
head trip1974
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) ix. li. 234 Which of the Patriarks, Prophets, or Gods People..vnto their owne Affections caru'd.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iii. 20 He may not as vnualewed persons doe, Carue for himselfe. View more context for this quotation
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 581 They shall carve themselves, of your punishment, and their owne advancement, at their pleasure.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions ii. x. 210 Thus to carve himselfe of justice, is..to violate lawfull authority.
1691 J. Locke Money in Wks. (1727) II. 35 When some common and great Distress..emboldens them to carve to their wants with armed Force.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > take [verb (transitive)] > take at will or pleasure
choosea1300
carve1578
the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > distribute or deal out [verb (transitive)] > assign or allot
givec1050
bequeatha1325
ordaina1325
assign1340
sortc1374
sign1389
betakea1400
beteacha1400
remiss1525
allot1534
carve1578
divide1600
to set off1687
the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] > appropriate
ownOE
rimec1275
takec1300
appropre1366
to keep, take to or for one's own storec1385
to get awayc1480
proper1496
apprehenda1522
impropry1526
impropriate1567
carve1578
forestall1581
appropriate1583
propriate1587
pocket1597
impatronize1611
propertya1616
asself1632
appropriatea1634
swallow1637
to swallow up1654
sink1699
poucha1774
spheterize1779
sack1807
fob1818
to look back to1822
mop1861
annex1865
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man iv. f. 50v Be sapient therfore Reader..not captious in caruing a fault.
1650 T. Hobbes De Corpore Politico 35 Where every man carveth out his own right, it hath the same effect, as if there were no right at all.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) i. 15 Carving a good portion of Honour to themselves.
1742 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero (ed. 3) I. i. 33 Licence being indulged to an insolent army of carving for themselves what fortunes they pleased.
1755 E. Young Centaur ii. 115 God's promises are better than any thing we can carve for ourselves.
10.
a. To cut up or subdivide.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > divide [verb (transitive)]
to-shedc888
to-dealeOE
dealc950
twemea1023
to-doOE
to-shiftc1122
brittenc1175
sunderc1230
depart1297
parta1300
twain15..
dividec1380
minisha1382
dressc1410
dissever1417
sever1435
quarterc1440
distinct1526
videc1540
disperse1548
several1570
separate1581
dirempt1587
distinguish1609
piecemeal1611
discrete1624
dispart1629
slit1645
parcel1652
canton1653
tripartite1653
split1707
carve1711
scind1869
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. ii. iii. 112 Our second Head: which we shou'd again subdivide into Firsts and Seconds, but that this manner of carving is of late days grown much out of fashion.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) VI. 379 The testator..has carved the whole fee in particular estates.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 25 All the rest was carved into small portions.
1875 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. (ed. 2) I. v. 97 The Country was carved into equal districts.
b. to carve up: to cheat, swindle. slang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > perpetrate (a swindle) [verb (transitive)] > defraud or swindle
defraud1362
deceivec1380
plucka1500
lurch1530
defeata1538
souse1545
lick1548
wipe1549
fraud1563
use1564
cozen1573
nick1576
verse1591
rooka1595
trim1600
skelder1602
firk1604
dry-shave1620
fiddle1630
nose1637
foista1640
doa1642
sharka1650
chouse1654
burn1655
bilk1672
under-enter1692
sharp1699
stick1699
finger1709
roguea1714
fling1749
swindle1773
jink1777
queer1778
to do over1781
jump1789
mace1790
chisel1808
slang1812
bucket1819
to clean out1819
give it1819
to put in the hole1819
ramp1819
sting1819
victimize1839
financier1840
gum1840
snakea1861
to take down1865
verneuk1871
bunco1875
rush1875
gyp1879
salt1882
daddle1883
work1884
to have (one) on toast1886
slip1890
to do (a person) in the eye1891
sugar1892
flay1893
to give (someone) the rinky-dink1895
con1896
pad1897
screw1900
short-change1903
to do in1906
window dress1913
ream1914
twist1914
clean1915
rim1918
tweedle1925
hype1926
clip1927
take1927
gazump1928
yentz1930
promote1931
to take (someone) to the cleaners1932
to carve up1933
chizz1948
stiff1950
scam1963
to rip off1969
to stitch up1970
skunk1971
to steal (someone) blind1974
diddle-
1909 J. R. Ware Passing Eng. Victorian Era 65 Carve up (Amer.), to annihilate completely. That dear grave holds a disappointed chap who cum out here from Reno to carve me up.]
1933 C. E. Leach On Top of Underworld x. 138 Carve up, swindle accomplice out of share.
1936 ‘J. Curtis’ Gilt Kid ix. 96 I'm going to trust you to play square with me at the end. No carving-up or else.
1959 H. Pinter Birthday Party i. 10 Then after that, you know what they did? They carved me up. Carved me up. It was all arranged, it was all worked out.
11. The alliterative phrase cut and carve goes back to the 14th cent. when the two words were equivalent, and cut was beginning to take the place of carve: it is still used, though mostly figurative, and probably carve is now usually taken in the preceding or some of the extant senses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > cut [verb (transitive)]
snithec725
carvec1000
cutc1275
slitc1275
hag1294
ritc1300
chop1362
slash1382
cut and carvea1398
flash?a1400
flish?a1400
slenda1400
race?a1425
raise?a1425
razea1425
scotch?c1425
ochec1440
slitec1450
ranch?a1525
scorchc1550
scalp1552
mincea1560
rash?1565
beslash1581
fent1589
engrave1590
nick1592
snip1593
carbonado1596
rescide1598
skice1600
entail1601
chip1609
wriggle1612
insecate1623
carbonate1629
carbonade1634
insecta1652
flick1676
sneg1718
snick1728
slot1747
sneck1817
tame1847
bite-
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. cii. 993 Bowes þerof [sc. mirra] ben ykorue, ykutte, and yslitte.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) v. lxiv. 181 The skynne is callyd cutis in latyn, for it..is ofte kytte and coruen.
c1400 Rom. Rose 1887 This arwe was kene grounde, As ony rasour that is founde, To kutte and kerve.
1633 G. Herbert Divinitie in Temple ii Which with the edge of wit they cut and carve.
1799 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (ed. 2) I. Introd. 8 Mr. L. T. Rede..proceeds to cut and carve me down into..a careful abridgement.
1810 W. Combe Schoolmaster's Tour in Poet. Mag. Nov. 4 To the last he'd cut and carve.
12. to carve out:
a. legal. To cut a smaller or subordinate estate out of a larger one.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal possession > possess in law [verb (transitive)] > divide some part of property from whole
sever1532
to carve out1625
1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 21 To carue out his whole maintenance out of their estates.
1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 107 The fee-simple..is generally vested and resides in some person or other; though divers inferior estates may be carved out of it.
1875 K. E. Digby Introd. Hist. Law Real Prop. v. 177 The estate of tenant in tail was, according to the metaphorical expression of the lawyers, ‘carved out of’, that is, less than an estate in fee simple and different from it.
1879 E. J. Castle Law of Rating 66 The interests carved out or subordinate to his occupation.
1885 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 29 255 A lease..carved out of a term created by a lease of the 27th of June, 1797.
b. transferred. (Sometimes also in other senses, esp. senses 1 and 4.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > fashion, shape, or form > form by cutting, pounding, tearing, rubbing, etc.
hewc900
smitec1275
tailc1400
carve1490
tear1597
wear1597
to work out1600
draw1610
to carve outa1616
effringe1657
shear1670
pare1708
sned1789
whittle1848
to rip up1852
slice1872
chop1874
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (transitive)] > through or over obstacles > by cutting
carve1490
to carve outa1616
hack1781
fray1849
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. ii. 20 Braue Macbeth..with his brandisht Steele..caru'd out his passage. View more context for this quotation
1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur vii. 202 The valiant..carve out to themselves propitious Fate.
1717 R. Bentley Serm. before King George 6 Carving out his own Satisfaction in every Object of Desire.
1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. vi. 514 Roger now sought..to carve out a dominion for himself.
1874 J. S. Blackie On Self-culture 77 Persistency will carve out a way to unexpected success.
1875 A. Maclaren Serm. 2nd Ser. viii. 144 No matter what honour they have carved out for themselves with their swords.
ΚΠ
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 323 A can carue to, and lispe: Why this is hee That kist his hand, a way in courtisie.
1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor i. iii. 40 She carues, she Discourses. She giues the lyre of inuitation.
Derivatives
carving n.
ΚΠ
1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock ii. i. 73 How do we make you safe, Spicer?.. If carving'd do it [etc.].
Draft additions December 2016
transitive. Sport. In skiing, surfing, etc.: to make (a turn) by putting weight and pressure on one edge of the ski or board so it moves through the snow or water in the required direction; to cut and turn through (a surface) in this way. Also intransitive: to ski, surf, etc., in this way. to carve it up: to cut through snow or water in a particularly dynamic or skilful manner.
ΚΠ
1947 F. Iselin & A. C. Spectorsky Invitation to Skiing vii. 117 This vertical posture preserves speed, rhythm and cadence. It helps the skier to carve clean turns, in which the skid is distributed over the curve.
1965 Register (Orange County, Calif.) 7 Nov. e21/5 Racing through the tube,..diving down to the trough, carving it up,..humiliating the wave.
1967 P. Edwards & R. K. Ottum You should have been here Hour Ago vii. 70 (caption) He..casually drags a hand through the wave to steady himself while carving a turn.
1989 Ski Nov. 139/2 Carving turns down gentle slopes.
1993 W. Witherell & D. Evrard Athletic Skier (1998) 212 A racer who can carve where others are skidding, gains time.
2003 Ski Sept. (Buyers Guide) 158/1 It flexes well, and it's plenty powerful to really carve it up.
2011 F. Parrett Past the Shallows (2012) 45 He carved along the wave nice and loose, flicked up with sharp cutbacks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1888
v.OE