penknife
(noun) a small pocketknife; originally used to cut quill pens
Source: WordNet® 3.1
penknife (plural penknives)
Originally a small utility knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds into nibs to provide or repair writing implements in times before pens with artificial nibs, generally metal, became commercially available in the 19th century. Early versions of penknives commonly were small sheath knives.
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. For the most part, such more convenient designs eventually replaced rigid pen knives in cutting quill pens or sharpening pencils.
As the need to cut nibs for pens fell away, but small utility pocket-knives remained popular, "penknife" became synonymous with "pocket-knife". Modern penknives often incorporate other tools such as corkscrews, but as a rule are smaller than general-purpose pocketknives.
Source: Wiktionary
Pen"knife`, n.; pl. Penknives. Etym: [Pen + knife.]
Definition: A small pocketknife; formerly, a knife used for making and mending quill pens.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
30 November 2024
(noun) a hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement, proposal, situation, etc.; “consider the following, just as a hypothetical”
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
