▪ I. wiver1 north. dial.
(ˈwaɪvə(r))
Also 6 wywer.
[Identical with waver, wafer, wefer, † waiver, † wayver, † weaver, in waver n.1, side-waver, and Northumb. dial. inwaver, inwiver (in sense a).]
A long beam of wood. a. in the roof of a house; in † wiver-tree, side-waver, top wiver. b. in a boat (see quot. 1894).
| c 1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesw. in Wright Voc. 170 Amont heceler mettez la poutre [glossed the wiver-tre]. 1532 in Priory of Finchale (Surtees) 445/2 [Timber at Durham sawn into] wywers, rybbs, wynd balks. 1641 [see side-waver 1]. 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 148 They will sowe downe theire thatch in fower places, viz.; first close to the very wall plates, then two foote belowe the side wivers, then two foote above the side wivers, and lastly aboute a yarde or more belowe the rigge-tree. 1894 Northumbld. Gloss., Wivere, a long beam. The top wivere is the wind-balk or collar beam in a housetop. The side wivere is the long beam on which frame-houses formerly rested. (Obs.) [Misprinted winere.] Ibid., Wiver, one of the timbers or wales of a boat on which the seats rest. |
▪ II. wiver2 rare.
(ˈwaɪvə(r))
[f. wive v. + -er1.]
One who takes a wife.
| 1888 Doughty Trav. Arabia Deserta II. 214 The young negro found the old wiver in the palms. |
▪ III. wiver(e, wivern(e
see wyver, wyvern.