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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread penknife #116347 11/21/2003 12:02 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 I have owned dozens of penknives, but never till now stopped to think why they are so called. "As a means towards his composure and self-possession, he entered into a more minute examination of the office than he had yet had time to make; looked into the wig-box, the books, and ink-bottle; untied and inspected all the papers; carved a few devices on the table with a sharp blade of Mr Brass's penknife; " penknife ['pɛnˌnaýf] noun (plural: -knives) a small knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle; pocketknife [ETYMOLOGY: 15th Century: so called because it was originally used for making and repairing quill pens] Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: penknife #116348 11/21/2003 12:06 AM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont thanks, Dr. Bill. funny how those common items are ones we often don't know anything about. or don't think to ask the question... formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: penknife #116349 11/21/2003 12:13 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Occasionally one will hear, in a folk song, the phrase "little pen knife" identifying an implement that was obviously used to perform a task beyond its abilities. Sometimes the phrase will be "wee pen knife," which is a hint to the true meaning: "weapon knife." That would be as opposed to "tool knife" I suppose. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: penknife #116350 11/21/2003 5:41 PM Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,296 Piedmont Region of Virginia, U... Wordwind Carpal Tunnel Wordwind Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,296 Piedmont Region of Virginia, U... This may be a year for the knives on AWAD. We've had that fascinating gully knife discussed, and now the derivation of penknife, equally fascinating. What will follow? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: penknife #116351 11/21/2003 6:29 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 What will follow? Did you know that the French word for pocket knife is canif? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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