shave

Meanings

Verb

• To make (the head, skin etc.) bald or (the hair) shorter by using a tool such as a razor or electric clippers to cut the hair close to the skin.
• To cut anything in this fashion.
• To remove hair from one's face by this means.
• To cut finely, as with slices of meat.
• To skim along or near the surface of; to pass close to, or touch lightly, in passing.
• To reduce in size or weight.
• To be hard and severe in a bargain with; to practice extortion on; to cheat.
• To buy (a note) at a discount greater than the legal rate of interest, or to deduct in discounting it more than the legal rate allows.

Noun

• An instance of shaving.
• A thin slice; a shaving.
• An exorbitant discount on a note.
• A premium paid for an extension of the time of delivery or payment, or for the right to vary a stock contract in any particular.
• A hand tool consisting of a sharp blade with a handle at each end; a spokeshave.
• A narrow miss or escape; a close shave.

Origin

• , schaven, from Old English sċafan, from Proto-Germanic *skabaną, from Proto-Indo-European *skabʰ-. Cognate with West Frisian skave, Dutch schaven, Low German schaven, German schaben, Danish skave, Norwegian Nynorsk skava, Swedish skava, Icelandic skafa, Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽.
• From Middle English shave, from Old English sceafa, from Proto-Germanic *skabô.