cleavage

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what is the origin of this word? does it refer to gratuitous yet luscious flesh that cleaves onto the body? does it refer to flesh onto which one would desire to cleave? or rather does it connote another meaning altogether, describing instead the impression of a mass of flesh having been cloven (as in the chasm between two boobs pressed against one another in tight v-neck dresses)? something else?

― macho pichu, Friday, 1 April 2005 16:55 (twenty years ago)

Probably three.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 1 April 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

im not sure the first two are accurate definitions of "cleave". the third is correct, but should it be "having been CLEFT" instead of "having been CLOVEN"?

― peter smith (plsmith), Friday, 1 April 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

Aye, Peter!

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:01 (twenty years ago)

you might be right about the past participle, peter, i'm not sure. however, definition 2 of "cleave," in the American Heritage Dictionary, states: "to adhere, cling, or stick fast; to be faithful." (perhaps you're not american?) the old english root is "cleofian"

― macho pichu, Friday, 1 April 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

My personal feeling is that a thread titled "cleavage" should not be about etymology.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

this is ilx, and so i'm sure that soon it won't be.

but in terms of the word itself, it's used a good bit in cellular biology--when cells divide, that makes cell cleavage. sexxy, i know.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

feel free to redirect the discourse. (though future posters, should you shed light upon the origin of this term, your efforts will meet with gratitude)

― macho pichu, Friday, 1 April 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

True, mr. snowblind. But anyway, From an etymology site:
"The sense of "cleft between a woman's breasts in low-cut clothing" is first recorded 1946, when it was defined in a "Time" magazine article as the "Johnston Office trade term for the shadowed depression dividing an actress' bosom into two distinct sections" [Aug. 5]."

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

feel free to redirect the discourse.

Nah, I already went ass crazy once this morning. My work is done.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

xpost - best dirty talk ever

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

I like that 'cleave' is its own antonym.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

whoa - i never knew that definition!

this is totally sexy. im into this.

― peter smith (plsmith), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

Ha now you guys know the truth behind my band's name (Cleft & Cloven).

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

Or if it wasn't the truth, it is now.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

I don't get it, Jordan. Are you saying you're into goat cleavage?

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:24 (twenty years ago)

I think he's saying that he was in the Dan Ackroyd / Tom Hanks Dragnet.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

Yes to both.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

I think he's saying that they're not Kosher.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:36 (twenty years ago)

Now I get this vision of rabbis inspecting cleavage.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

I wish somebody would photoshop that. Oh how I wish.

― Fa Fa fa FA, Fa fa Fa fa FA Fa (poop), Friday, 1 April 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

I like that 'cleave' is its own antonym.

The mrs. just reminded me of another good one, "fast," meaning both quick and motionless ("stand fast").

― Curious George Finds the Ether Bottle (Rock Hardy), Friday, 1 April 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

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