penknife en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English penne knyfe; equivalent to pen + knife. In the original sense, named for its purpose: aiding the use of a (traditional) ink pen through the following tasks: trimming the tip of a quill pen, trimming a reed for a nib, and (in some cases) allowing erasure by scraping away some ink.
Meanings
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A small pocketknife; (loosely) any pocketknife.
Limpet's penknife was on the table, and he snatched that up and commenced stabbing it into the cork, whether as a means of getting it out, or merely as a relief to his passion, it is difficult to say.
1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 156:The logical distinction between genus and species can, of course, apply to any objects whatsoever. Thus, for example, the genus knife may be divided into several species, such as penknife, table knife, bread knife, razor, etc. We might define the penknife as a knife small enough to be carried in the pocket, with foldable, sheathable elements, characterized by the feature that one blade at least is always suitable for sharpening pencils and erasing ink spots. We are quite sure in which features all the members of a certain species agree, notwithstanding possible individual characteristics, say a monogram on one penknife, or a corkscrew in another.
1948, G. Rabel, Discovery:
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(dated) A small knife designed for safe and convenient storage, typically in the form of a miniature clasp-knife, or with blade retractable into the handle.
Presently the man took a reed pen from his satchel, and trimmed it with a little ivory knife, carved in the semblance of a fish. "Oh, what a beauty!" cried Dan. "'Ware fingers! That blade is perilous sharp. I made it myself of the best Low Country crossbow steel. And so, too, this fish. When his back-fin travels to his tail—so—he swallows up the blade, even as the whale swallowed Gaffer Jonah."
1906, Rudyard Kipling, Puck of Pook's Hill:
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(archaic) A small knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds into nibs to provide or repair writing implements, early versions were commonly small sheath knives.
Every sin is damning without Christ. "The wages of sin is death". It is no great difference, if a man be killed, whether it be by a sword or a penknife. The least sin violates the whole law. He that offendeth in one point, is guilty of all.
1689, John Flavel, Christ Knocking at the Door:If a ſarcell, or other feathers be broken aboue the quyll, towards the poynt of yͤ fethers twoo or three fingers bredth, you muſt cut it off with a ſharpe penknife, aſlope, and (as they ſay) a ſwaſhe, ⁊ then take another feather to the ſame, cutting it in like manner, as you did the other, ſo as it may fitte with yͤ ſame feather, both for length and cutte.
1575, George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], “The Way and Manner, Howe to Ympe a Hawkes Feather, Howsoeuer It be Broken or Broosed”, in The Booke of Faulconrie or Hauking, for the Onely Delight and Pleasure of All Noblemen and Gentlemen: […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, page 277:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| penknives | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
folding knife · utility knife · Swiss Army knife · pocketknife · clasp knife · jack-knife
Deriveds
Translations (54)
es navaja (small pocketknife) · sv pennkniv (small pocketknife) · pt canivete (small pocketknife) · gl navalla (small pocketknife) · fy knyft (small pocketknife) · ota صویا (small pocketknife) · gl canivete (small pocketknife) · hy գրչահատ (small pocketknife) · te చాకు (small pocketknife) · hu zsebkés (small pocketknife) · ru перочи́нный нож (small pocketknife) · nog беки (small pocketknife) · el σουγιαδάκι (small pocketknife) · tr çakı (small pocketknife) · fa قلمتراش (small pocketknife) · cy pencnath (small pocketknife) · fur britulin (small pocketknife) · ota قلمتراش (knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds) · lb Täschemesser (small pocketknife) · zdj djemɓe (small pocketknife) · ota چاقی (small pocketknife) · ba бәке (small pocketknife) · fi linkkuveitsi (small pocketknife) · hu rugós kés (small pocketknife) · ja ポケットナイフ (small pocketknife) · hi क़लमतराश (knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds) · ota گزلك (knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds) · es cortaplumas (small pocketknife) · hu vakarókés (small pocketknife) · ga scian phóca (small pocketknife) · pl scyzoryk (small pocketknife) · tr soya (small pocketknife) · bg джобно ножче (small pocketknife) · io posh-kulteleto (small pocketknife) · ka ჯაყვა (small pocketknife) · cs kapesní nůž (small pocketknife) · hu tollkés (small pocketknife) · hu penicilus (small pocketknife) · bo ལྟེབས་གྲི (small pocketknife) · de Taschenmesser (small pocketknife) · fr canif (small pocketknife) · de Sackmesser (small pocketknife) · sv fickkniv (small pocketknife) · nl pennenmes (small pocketknife) · cmn 小刀 (small pocketknife) · cy cyllell boced (small pocketknife) · is pennahnífur (small pocketknife) · sv fällkniv (small pocketknife) · hy զմելին (small pocketknife) · hu bicska (small pocketknife) · cy pengneth (small pocketknife) · ar مِطْواة (small pocketknife) · pt canivete suíço (small pocketknife) · pl nożyk do pióra (knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds)