First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
penknife
noun pen·knife \ˈpen-ˌnīf\
: a small knife with a folding blade
Full Definition of PENKNIFE
: a small pocketknife usually with only one blade
See penknife defined for English-language learners
See penknife defined for kids
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Origin of PENKNIFE
Middle English; from its original use for mending quill pens
Rhymes with PENKNIFE
alewife, case knife, clasp knife, drawknife, farmwife, fishwife, flick-knife, folklife, good life, goodwife, half-life, highlife, housewife, jackknife, loosestrife, lowlife, midlife, midwife, nightlife, oldwife, pro-life, real-life, shelf life, steak knife, still life, true-life, wakerife, whole-life, wildlife
PENKNIFE Defined for Kids
penknife
noun pen·knife \ˈpen-ˌnīf\
plural pen·knives \-ˌnīvz\
Definition of PENKNIFE for Kids
: a small jackknife
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