Definitions for penknife
ˈpɛnˌnaɪfpenknife

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penknifenoun

   a small pocketknife; originally used to cut quill pens

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penknifenoun

   A small pocketknife; a small knife with a blade which folds into the hand. Penknives often incorporate other tools such as corkscrews, and are generally smaller than pocketknives as a group.

2. Etymology: originally a small knife used for cutting the nib of a quill pen

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penknifenoun

   A knife used to cut pens.

   Etymology: pen and knife.

   Some schoolmen, fitter to guide penknives than swords, precisely stand upon it. Francis Bacon.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penknife

   Penknife, or pen knife, is a British English term for a small folding knife. Today the word penknife is the common British English term for both a pocketknife, which can have single or multiple blades, and for multi-tools, with additional tools incorporated into the design.Originally, penknives were used for thinning and pointing quills (cf. penna, Latin for feather) to prepare them for use as dip pens and, later, for repairing or re-pointing the nib. A penknife might also be used to sharpen a pencil, prior to the invention of the pencil sharpener. In the mid-1800s, penknives were necessary to slice the uncut edges of newspapers and books.A penknife did not necessarily have a folding blade, but might resemble a scalpel or chisel by having a short, fixed blade at the end of a long handle. One popular (but incorrect) folk etymology makes an association between the size of a penknife and that of a small ballpoint pen. During the 20th century there has been a proliferation of multi-function knives with assorted blades and gadgets, including; awls, reamers, scissors, nail files, corkscrews, tweezers, toothpicks, and so on. The tradition continues with the incorporation of modern devices such as ballpoint pens, LED torches/flashlights, and USB flash drives.The most famous example of a multi-function penknife is the Swiss Army knife, some versions of which number dozens of functions and are really more of a folding multi-tool, incorporating a blade or two, than a penknife with extras.A larger folding knife, especially one in which the blade locks into place, is often called a claspknife.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penknife

   A penknife is a small, foldable knife primarily used for cutting or sharpening quills for writing. They are often designed with a single blade, but can have multiple tools including blades and other utensils, such as files or corkscrews. Its small and compact design makes it easy to carry in one's pocket, hence the term "pocketknife" is also frequently used interchangeably.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penknifenoun

   a small pocketknife; formerly, a knife used for making and mending quill pens

2. Etymology: [Pen + knife.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penknife

   A penknife, or pen knife, is a small folding pocket knife, originally used for cutting or sharpening a quill to make a pen nib. Originally, penknives did not necessarily have folding blades, but resembled a scalpel or wood knife by having a short, fixed blade at the end of a long handle. These knives were used for thinning and pointing quills to prepare them for use as writing instruments and, later, for repairing or re-pointing the quills. They may also be used to whittle wood. Modern penknives may have single or multiple blades and additional tools incorporated into the design. Over the last hundred years, there has been a proliferation of multi-function knives with multifarious and often ingenious gadgets including awls, reamers, scissors, nail files, corkscrews, tweezers, toothpicks, and so on, and the tradition continues with the incorporation of modern devices such as ballpoint pens, LED flashlights, and USB flash drives. The most famous example of a multi-function knife is the Swiss Army knife, some versions of which number dozens of functions and are really more of a folding multi-tool, incorporating a blade or two, than a penknife with extras. A larger folding knife, especially one in which the blade locks into place, is often called a claspknife.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penknife

   pen′nīf, n. a small knife, originally for making and mending quill pens.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penknife

   A small pocket-knife intended primarily for cutting quill pens. Though quills are no longer in fashion, save among lawyers and bankers, and the penknife is serviceable only for trimming one’s finger nails, its original name survives.

Matched Categories

1. • Pocketknife

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce penknife?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say penknife in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of penknife in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of penknife in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=penknife
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Penknife
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=penknife
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penknife
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penknife
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=penknife
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=penknife
9. ^ Etymology and Origins
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=penknife
10. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=penknife