Obs. rare. [app. Anglo-Fr. *clef ad. L. clāvus pin: cf. quots. (Grafton not knowing the word, tried to make sense with cleft.) Cf. CLAVE2 3.] The pin or needle of a weighing-beam.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 342. Was ordeynyd, yt the beame shulde stande vpryght, the cleffe thereof enclynynge to neyther partye, as it doth in weyinge of golde and syluer.
1568. Grafton, Chron. Hen. III., II. 131. Ordeyned that the Beame should stande vpright in the cleft thereof enclinyng to neyther partie.
Cf. 1256. Lib. de Antiq. Leg. (Camd.), 25, in fine 40 Hen. III. De Correctione Statere Domini Regis … Excepto auro et argento quod semper ponderatur per medium clavum, neque trahens ad pondam neque ad aurum sive ad argentum. 1269 ibid. (53 Hen. III) De Stateris et Pond. Mercatorum extran. Ponderato per medium clavum [mispr. clavium; but MS. has clauū] sicut aurum et argentum.
1353. Act 27 Edw. III. c. 10. (Statute of the Staple) Issint que la lange du balance soit owele, saunz encliner a lune partie ou a lautre. Pulton transl. So that the tongue of the ballance be euen without bowing to one side or to the other.
