Where does “knife” come from?
Knife comes from Middle English knif, from Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, from Proto-Germanic knībaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to scrape or cut.
knife (English): A utensil or a tool designed for cutting,...
Definitions
- A utensil or a tool designed for cutting,...
Ancestry of “knife”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | knyf | A knife as a tool or instrument; the following... |
| 2 | Old English | cnīf | knife |
| 3 | Old Norse | knífr | knife |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | knībaz | pincers; shears; knife |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | knīpaną | to pinch |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵneybʰ- | — |
Words derived from “knife”