Slither – sliver

The two words slither and sliver are often confused on account of their similarities in pronunciation, Both have the stress on the first vowel, which is like that in ‘give’, and a schwa in the second syllable: the difference between them is simply in the central consonant, which for slither is the dental [ð], making IPA: /ˈslɪ ðə^r/ and for sliver the bilabial fricative [v] , making IPA: /ˈslɪ və^r/. These two consonants are not infrequently confused by less careful speakers.

• Slither can be a noun or a verb. The verb is older.
  • ’To slither' originally meant ‘to slip’ or ‘to glide’, often in the context of walking across fallen rock or scree. . Hence it comes to mean ‘to walk in a sliding manner’, ‘to slide or sidle along’. It is frequently nowadays used of reptiles, particularly snakes, who use “limbless terrestrial locomotion” as wikipedia defines it; and various toys, etc, that are designed to mimic them. The connotations of slithering are unpleasant, and imply slimy flattery and greasy crawling.
  • The noun 'a slither' is a nineteenth century word used in the northern half of Britain for scree, or the rubble of small stones and rubbish which has fallen from a hillside, often of limestone.
  • A rare adjective slither also exists, meaning ‘smoothly’ – more like a snake than scree. Nowadays, the adjective slithery is more common.
• Sliver can also be used as a noun or, rarely, as a verb. Here the noun is older, and the verb markedly less common.
  • The noun sliver means ‘a piece’, ‘a fragment’, ‘a splinter’. It is usually long and thin.
  • So the verb 'to sliver ' means ‘to break into fragments’

Don’t confuse either slither or sliver with silver, the white precious metal used in cutlery and other tableware, jewellery and so on.,

See also a comparable pair at Slather - slaver.