knife

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A tool with a sharp blade and a handle, used for cutting.

   Can you pass me a knife so that I can cut my steak?

2. 2
   verb

   To stab or injure someone with a knife.

   The victim was knifed to death.

3. 3
   verb

   To cut or move through something as if with a knife.

   The boat knifed through the water.

From Middle English knyf, knif, from late Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, from Proto-Germanic *knībaz, from *knīpaną (“to pinch”), Proto-Indo-European *gneybʰ- (compare Lithuanian gnýbti, žnýbti (“to pinch”), gnaibis (“pinching”)). Displaced native Middle English sax (“knife”) from Old English seax; and Middle English coutel, qwetyll (“knife”) from Old French coutel. The verb knife is attested since the 1860s; the variant knive is attested since 1733. Cognates Cognate with Yola kunnife (“knife”), North Frisian knif (“knife”), Dutch knijf (“long pointy knife, poniard”), German Knifte (“…

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