\Shiv"er\, 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.
2. A thin slice; a shive. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] ``A shiver of
   their own loaf.'' --Fuller.
         Of your soft bread, not but a shiver. --Chaucer.
3. (Geol.) A variety of blue slate.
4. (Naut.) A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
5. A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window
   shutter.
6. A spindle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

\Shiv"er\, 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.
      All the ground With shivered armor strown. --Milton.

\Shiv"er\, v. i.
To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be
shattered.
      There shiver shafts upon shields thick.  --Chaucer
      The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . .
      would instantly shiver into millions of atoms.
                                               --Woodward.

\Shiv"er\, 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.
      Prometheus is laid On icy Caucasus to shiver. --Swift.
      The man that shivered on the brink of sin, Thus steeled
      and hardened, ventures boldly in.        --Creech.

\Shiv"er\, v. t. (Naut.)
To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to
the wind.

\Shiv"er\, n.
The act of shivering or trembling.