from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shave \Shave\, v. t. [imp. {Shaved} (sh[=a]vd);p. p. {Shaved} or
{Shaven} (sh[=a]v"'n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shaving}.] [OE.
shaven, schaven, AS. scafan, sceafan; akin to D. schaven, G.
schaben, Icel. skafa, Sw. skafva, Dan. skave, Goth. scaban,
Russ. kopate to dig, Gr. ska`ptein, and probably to L.
scabere to scratch, to scrape. Cf. {Scab}, {Shaft}, {Shape}.]
1. To cut or pare off from the surface of a body with a razor
or other edged instrument; to cut off closely, as with a
razor; as, to shave the beard.
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2. To make bare or smooth by cutting off closely the surface,
or surface covering, of; especially, to remove the hair
from with a razor or other sharp instrument; to take off
the beard or hair of; as, to shave the face or the crown
of the head; he shaved himself.
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I'll shave your crown for this. --Shak.
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The laborer with the bending scythe is seen
Shaving the surface of the waving green. --Gay.
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3. To cut off thin slices from; to cut in thin slices.
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Plants bruised or shaven in leaf or root. --Bacon.
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4. To skim along or near the surface of; to pass close to, or
touch lightly, in passing.
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Now shaves with level wing the deep. --Milton.
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5. To strip; to plunder; to fleece. [Colloq.]
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{To shave a note}, to buy it at a discount greater than the
legal rate of interest, or to deduct in discounting it
more than the legal rate allows. [Cant, U.S.]
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