different between knife vs cleaver

English

Alternative forms

• (noun): knyfe (obsolete)
  • (plural): knifes (nonstandard)
• (verb): knive (uncommon)

Etymology

From Middle English knyf, knif, from late Old English cn?f, from Old Norse knífr (compare Danish/Swedish/Norwegian kniv), North Frisian Knif from Proto-Germanic *kn?baz (compare Low German Knief, Luxembourgish Knäip (“penknife”)), from *kn?pan? (“to pinch”) (compare Dutch knijpen, Low German kniepen, Old High German gniffen), from Proto-Indo-European *gneyb?- (compare Lithuanian gnýbti, žnýbti (“to pinch”), gnaibis (“pinching”)). Replaced Middle English sax (“knife”) from Old English seax (“knife, dagger”), and replaced Middle English coutel, qwetyll (“knife”) from Old French coutel (“knife”).

The verb knife is attested since the mid 1800s; the variant knive is attested since 1733.

Pronunciation

• enPR: n?f, IPA^(key): /na?f/
• Rhymes: -a?f

Noun

knife (plural knives)

1. A utensil or a tool designed for cutting, consisting of a flat piece of hard material, usually steel or other metal (the blade), usually sharpened on one edge, attached to a handle. The blade may be pointed for piercing.
   • 2007, Scott Smith, The Ruins, page 273

     Jeff was bent low over the backboard, working with the knife, a steady sawing motion, his shirt soaked through with sweat.

2. A weapon designed with the aforementioned specifications intended for slashing and/or stabbing and too short to be called a sword. A dagger.
3. Any blade-like part in a tool or a machine designed for cutting, such as that of a chipper.

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? Portuguese: naifa
• Sranan Tongo: nefi

Translations

See also

• athame
• bayonet
• bistoury
• cake slice, cake-slice
• dagger
• poniard
• scalpel
• stiletto
• knife on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Verb

knife (third-person singular simple present knifes, present participle knifing, simple past and past participle knifed)

1. (transitive) To cut with a knife.
2. (transitive) To use a knife to injure or kill by stabbing, slashing, or otherwise using the sharp edge of the knife as a weapon.
3. (intransitive) To cut through as if with a knife.
4. (transitive) To betray, especially in the context of a political slate.
5. (transitive) To positively ignore, especially in order to denigrate. compare cut

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Finke

Middle English

Noun

knife

1. Alternative form of knyf

English

Etymology

From cleave +? -er; compare Middle English clevere.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?kliv?/
• Rhymes: -i?v?(r)

Noun

cleaver (plural cleavers)

1. A squarish, heavy knife used by butchers for hacking through bones, etc.
   • 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Chapter V

     When he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where butchers stood, and took up his inn in the best place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them together, he trolled aloud in merry tones:...

   • 1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan

     Concurrently with Flay's visualization of the cleaver falling—the cleaver fell.

2. (music, Bahamas) A type of clave, or rhythm stick, a concussive musical instrument used in traditional Bahamian music.
3. (metaphoric) The act of eliminating someone or something, especially when done by someone with a history of other eliminations; a dismissal, rejection, or removal.

   Synonym: axe

Usage notes

As a musical instrument, cleaver is normally used only in the plural, just like the more common synonym claves, which is far more often used internationally and is better known as a part of Cuban music. In the Bahamas, cleavers is the more common terminology.

Related terms

• cleave

Translations