Salve (?), v. t. & i. [See
Salvage] To save, as a ship or goods, from the perils of
the sea. [Recent]
Salve, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Salved (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Salving.] [AS. sealfian to anoint. See Salve,
n.] 1. To heal by applications
or medicaments; to cure by remedial treatment; to apply salve to; as,
to salve a wound. Shak.
2. To heal; to remedy; to cure; to make good;
to soothe, as with an ointment, especially by some device, trick, or
quibble; to gloss over.
But Ebranck salved both their infamies
With noble deeds.
Spenser.
What may we do, then, to salve this seeming
inconsistence?
Milton.||Sal"ve (?), interj. [L., hail, God
save you, imperat. of salvere to be well. Cf. Salvo a
volley.] Hail!
Sal"ve (? or ?), v. t. To say
"Salve" to; to greet; to salute. [Obs.]
By this that stranger knight in presence came,
And goodly salved them.
Spenser.Salve (?; 277), n. [AS. sealf
ointment; akin to LG. salwe, D. zalve, zalf, OHG.
salba, Dan. salve, Sw. salfva, Goth.
salbōn to anoint, and probably to Gr. (Hesychius) ?
oil, ? butter, Skr. sarpis clarified butter. √155,
291.] 1. An adhesive composition or substance to
be applied to wounds or sores; a healing ointment.
Chaucer.
2. A soothing remedy or antidote.
Counsel or consolation we may bring.
Salve to thy sores.
Milton.
Salve bug (Zoöl.), a large, stout
isopod crustacean (Æga psora), parasitic on the halibut
and codfish, -- used by fishermen in the preparation of a salve. It
becomes about two inches in length.