Sleave

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread.

2. Silk not yet twisted; floss; -- called also sleave silk. Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care. Shak.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley; -- a weaver's term.