different between squarish vs cleaver

English

Etymology

square +? -ish

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: skwâr?-?sh, IPA^(key): /?skw??.??/

Adjective

squarish (comparative more squarish, superlative most squarish)

1. approximately square
   • 1953, C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair, Collins, 1998, Chapter 7,

     When they reached the foot of the hill they caught a glimpse of what might be rocks on each side—squarish rocks, if you looked at them carefully, but no one did.

   • 1996, Kenzabur? ?e, An Echo of Heaven (1989), translated by Margaret Mitsutani, Tokyo: Kondansha International, Chapter 1, p. 22,

     She gaily thrust her squarish chin toward the front of the tent.

2. oblong

Derived terms

• squarishness

English

Etymology

From cleave +? -er; compare Middle English clevere.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?kliv?/
• Rhymes: -i?v?(r)

Noun

cleaver (plural cleavers)

1. A squarish, heavy knife used by butchers for hacking through bones, etc.
   • 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Chapter V

     When he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where butchers stood, and took up his inn in the best place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them together, he trolled aloud in merry tones:...

   • 1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan

     Concurrently with Flay's visualization of the cleaver falling—the cleaver fell.

2. (music, Bahamas) A type of clave, or rhythm stick, a concussive musical instrument used in traditional Bahamian music.
3. (metaphoric) The act of eliminating someone or something, especially when done by someone with a history of other eliminations; a dismissal, rejection, or removal.

   Synonym: axe

Usage notes

As a musical instrument, cleaver is normally used only in the plural, just like the more common synonym claves, which is far more often used internationally and is better known as a part of Cuban music. In the Bahamas, cleavers is the more common terminology.

Related terms

• cleave

Translations