common name of an edible herb closely related to garlic, c. 1400, from Old North French chive (Old French, Modern French cive, 13c.), from Latin cepa "onion" (see onion).

"a razor," by 1915, possibly 1890s or earlier in underworld slang, a variant (based on pronunciation) of chive, thieves' cant word for "knife" (1670s), which is of unknown origin. Often said to be a Romany (Gypsy) word, from chivomengro "knife."