Sleave

n. [Icel. slefa, a slender thread, Ger. schleife, a knot.] The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread; silk or thread untwisted.

Sleave silk, untwisted or raw silk in the state in which it is used for weaving.

v. t. To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley;—a term used by weavers.