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Shiver (?), 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.
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2. A thin slice; a shive. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] “A shiver of their own loaf.” Fuller.
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Of your soft bread, not but a shiver. Chaucer.
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3. (Geol.) A variety of blue slate.
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4. (Naut.) A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
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5. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
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6. A spindle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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Shiver, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shivered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shivering.] [OE. schiveren, scheveren; cf. OD. scheveren. See Shiver a fragment.] To break into many small pieces, or splinters; to shatter; to dash to pieces by a blow; as, “to shiver a glass goblet”.
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All the ground
With shivered armor strown. Milton.
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Shiver, v. i. To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be shattered.
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There shiver shafts upon shields thick. Chaucer
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The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . . would instantly shiver into millions of atoms. Woodward.
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Shiver, v. i. [OE. chiveren, cheveren; of uncertain origin. This word seems to have been confused with shiver to shatter.] To tremble; to vibrate; to quiver; to shake, as from cold or fear.
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Prometheus is laid
On icy Caucasus to shiver. Swift.
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The man that shivered on the brink of sin,
Thus steeled and hardened, ventures boldly in. Creech.
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Shiver, v. t. (Naut.) To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
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Shiver, n. The act of shivering or trembling.
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