different between corkscrews vs penknife

English

Noun

corkscrews

1. plural of corkscrew

Verb

corkscrews

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of corkscrew

English

Etymology

From Middle English penne knyfe; equivalent to pen +? knife

Noun

penknife (plural penknives)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

See also

• clasp knife
• jackknife
• pocketknife
• Swiss Army knife

Translations

Middle English

Noun

penknife

1. Alternative form of penne knyfe