Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Clove?

\Clove\, imp. of {Cleave}. Cleft. --Spenser. {Clove hitch} (Naut.) See under {Hitch}. {Clove hook} (Naut.), an iron two-part hook, with jaws overlapping, used in bending chain sheets to the clews of sails; -- called also {clip hook}. --Knight.
\Clove\, n. [D. kloof. See {Cleave}, v. t.] A cleft; a gap; a ravine; -- rarely used except as part of a proper name; as, Kaaterskill Clove; Stone Clove.
\Clove\, n. [OE. clow, fr. F. clou nail, clou de girofle a clove, lit. nail of clove, fr. L. clavus nail, perh. akin to clavis key, E. clavicle. The clove was so called from its resemblance to a nail. So in D. kruidnagel clove, lit. herb-nail or spice-nail. Cf. {Cloy}.] A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree ({Eugenia, or Caryophullus, aromatica}), a native of the Molucca Isles. {Clove camphor}. (Chem.) See {Eugenin}. {Clove gillyflower}, {Clove pink} (Bot.), any fragrant self-colored carnation.
\Clove\, n. [AS. clufe an ear of corn, a clove of garlic; cf. cle['o]fan to split, E. cleave.] 1. (Bot.) One of the small bulbs developed in the axils of the scales of a large bulb, as in the case of garlic. Developing, in the axils of its skales, new bulbs, of what gardeners call cloves. --Lindley. 2. A weight. A clove of cheese is about eight pounds, of wool, about seven pounds. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.