Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

penknife

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.02 in modern English

Syllables
penknife
IPA
17
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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.

Dated

verb

To cut or carve with a penknife.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

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.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Questions

What does penknife mean?
A small pocketknife; (loosely) any pocketknife.
Where does penknife come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce penknife

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “penknife”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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