cleaver 的词源

15世纪晚期，cleave（动词1）派生的名词，意为“劈裂者”。最初指“用楔子劈木板的人，而不是锯木工”；从14世纪中期起，作为姓氏的一部分出现。15世纪中期起，指代“屠夫用的长刃砍刀”。Marrow-bones and cleavers作为“粗犷音乐”的乐器，最早见于1716年。

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]

最后提到的“Marrowbones and Cleaver”是位于费特巷的一个招牌，源于一种如今正迅速消失的习俗：屠夫们用这些专业乐器为新婚夫妇演奏小夜曲。过去，这个乐队通常由四把音色各异的砍刀组成，若齐全则有八把。他们通过巧妙地敲击骨头，发出一种类似于拙劣钟声的音乐。然而，如果演奏得当，并且从适当的距离听去，其实并不算太难听……克莱市场的屠夫们以其出色的演奏技艺而闻名……这种音乐曾经如此普遍，以至于汤姆·基利格鲁称其为英格兰的国乐。[拉伍德与霍滕，《招牌的历史，从最早到现在》，伦敦，1867年]