[f. LEVER sb.1]
1. intr. To apply a lever; to work with a lever.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. ii. 31. It was all in vain that Hans and I … lifted, levered, twisted and pulled.
1897. Daily News, 16 March, 6/5. They delved, and levered, and sweated.
2. trans. a. To lift, push, or otherwise move with or as with a lever; also with along, away, out, over, up. b. To bring into a specified condition by applying a lever.
1876. Preece & Sivewright, Telegraphy, 209. The bottom of the pole being ‘levered’ out of the ground.
1882. Jefferies, Bevis, I. i. 11. He began to lever the raft along.
1887. Baring-Gould, Gaverocks, I, vi. 89. I flung with such force that I levered the boat away.
1891. Miss Dowie, Girl in Karp., vi. 75. I levered up an eyelid with difficulty.
1896. Daily Chron., 15 Aug., 9/3. On no account should the canoe be levered with one end of the pole on the ground.
1898. Daily News, 19 May, 5/3. The concrete fell … and levered the pier over.
1898. Cycling, 77. By passing a bar through the frame … and levering it straight.
fig. 1890. Graphic, 11 Oct., 406/1. He seeks this by levering out of his place his best friend.
Hence Levering vbl. sb. Also attrib.
1869. Mrs. Whitney, We Girls, x. (1878), 174. A few more vigorous strokes, and a little smart levering, and the nails loosened.
1897. Daily News, 3 Nov., 6/6. Snapped off by means of some powerful levering tool.
