Penknife meaning

pĕn'nīf'
A small pocketknife.
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A small pocketknife; originally, one used in fashioning quill pens.
noun
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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.
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Origin of penknife

originally a small knife used for cutting the nib of a quill pen

Sentence Examples

  • The prospect drove him insane, and he attempted suicide; he purchased poison, he placed a penknife at his heart, but hesitated to apply either measure of self-destruction.

  • He was, however, sentenced to be hanged on the 12th of November; but on the nth he cut his throat with a penknife, and on the 19th of November 17 9 8 he died of the wound.

  • In this case, the claw-like terminal segment may be simply flexed against the preceding in the same way as the blade of a penknife shuts up against the handle.

  • He tried to get in with the blade of a very small penknife.

  • penknife blade inside.

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Words near penknife in the Dictionary