penknife
A small pocketknife; any pocketknifeA small pocketknife; (loosely) any pocketknife.
» My new penknife has many useful functions.
Мій новий цизорик має багато корисних функцій.
Мій новий складаний ніж має багато корисних функцій.
Meaning
3 sensesA small pocketknife; (loosely) any pocketknife.
Taschenmesser, Sackmesser
перочи́нный ножperočínnyj nož
a small pocketknife; originally used to cut quill pens
(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.
(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.
Examples
9 sentencesMy new penknife has many useful functions.
Мій новий цизорик має багато корисних функцій. — deniko
Tom kept a penknife in his pocket.
ruТом держал в кармане перочинный нож. — odexed
Sami was arrested for carrying a penknife.
She cut the rope with her penknife.
deSie zerschnitt das Seil mit ihrem Taschenmesser. — Yorwba
I've heard that his brother was stabbed with a penknife.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English penne knyfe; equivalent to pen + knife. In the original sense, named fFrom 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.
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