rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryslaverDrooling
noun / verb

slaver

SLAV-er/ˈslævər/

Drooling saliva from the mouth.

The dog slavers as it stares eagerly at the bowl of food.

A healthy dog eagerly staring at a bowl of food, with clear strands of saliva hanging from its open mouth, makes the literal drooling sense visible.
Etymology
slaverOld Norseto drool

Old Norse slafra meant to drool and was probably imitative of the sound. The eager-desire sense uses the physical image of people practically drooling over what they want.

More examples

  • She wipes the dog's slaver off the floor.
  • The puppy slavered all over my sleeve.
  • Investors are slavering over the prospect of huge profits.

Forms

slaver · slavers · slavered · slavering

Similar words

drool
Drool is the more common, neutral word for dripping saliva.
slobber
Slobber emphasizes messy drooling, often with saliva spreading around.