Shiv″er (?), n. [OE. schivere, fr. shive; cf. G. schifer a splinter, slate, OHG. scivere a splinter, Dan. & Sw. skifer a slate. See Shive, and cf. Skever.] 1. One of the small pieces, or splinters, into which a brittle thing is broken by sudden violence; — generally used in the plural. “All to shivers dashed.” Milton.
2. A thin slice; a shive. “A shiver of their own loaf.” Fuller.
Of your soft bread, not but a shiver. Chaucer.
3. (Geol.) A variety of blue slate.
4. (Naut.) A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
5. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
6. A spindle.