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Definition of penknife

penknife

/ˈpɛnˌnaɪf/
pen · knife
Plural:penknives
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penknife Lexical Profile

penknife Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small pocketknife with one or more blades that fold into the handle, originally used for making or sharpening quill pens.

Example

"The carpenter kept a small penknife in his vest pocket for whittling wood and opening packages."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for penknife

• Nearby Words

penitent
penitentiary
penitently
penknife
penlight
penlike
penmanship

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in Late Middle English, the word originally referred to a small knife used by scribes to cut, shape, and repair quill pens.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Penknife. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/penknife
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