Cleavers

a North American plant, Galium aparine, of the madder family, having short, hooked bristles on the stems and leaves and bearing very small white flowers.
any of certain related species.
a heavy, broad-bladed knife or long-bladed hatchet, especially one used by butchers for cutting meat into joints or pieces.
a person or thing that cleaves.
Contemporary Examples

The 2012 Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide Megan McArdle December 12, 2012

Historical Examples

Stubble George Looms
Duffels Edward Eggleston
Charles Dickens and Music James T. Lightwood
Mildred Arkell, (Vol 3 of 3) Ellen Wood
The Fat and the Thin Emile Zola
The Lady of Lynn Walter Besant
The Fat and the Thin Emile Zola
Alexander Pope Leslie Stephen
Charles Dickens and Music James T. Lightwood

noun
(functioning as sing) a Eurasian rubiaceous plant, Galium aparine, having small white flowers and prickly stems and fruits Also called goosegrass, hairif, sticky willie
noun
a heavy knife or long-bladed hatchet, esp one used by butchers
n.

This last [“Marrowbones and Cleaver”] is a sign in Fetter Lane, originating from a custom, now rapidly dying away, of the butcher boys serenading newly married couples with these professional instruments. Formerly, the band would consist of four cleavers, each of a different tone, or, if complete, of eight, and by beating their marrowbones skilfully against these, they obtained a sort of music somewhat after the fashion of indifferent bell-ringing. When well performed, however, and heard from a proper distance, it was not altogether unpleasant. … The butchers of Clare market had the reputation of being the best performers. … This music was once so common that Tom Killigrew called it the national instrument of England. [Larwood & Hotten, “The History of Signboards from the Earliest Times to the Present Day,” London, 1867]

cleaver
(klē’vər)
A bifacial stone tool flaked to produce a straight, sharp, relatively wide edge at one end. Cleavers are early core tools associated primarily with the Acheulian tool culture.