Where does “knifejaw” come from?

knifejaw (English) comes from English knife, from Middle English knyf, from Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, from Proto-Germanic knībaz, from Proto-Germanic knīpaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ-.

knifejaw (English): Any of the family Oplegnathidae of perciform...

Definitions

  1. Any of the family Oplegnathidae of perciform...

Ancestry of “knifejaw”, step by step

knifejaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English knife

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishknifeA utensil or a tool designed for cutting,...
2Middle EnglishknyfA knife as a tool or instrument; the following...
3Old Englishcnīfknife
4Old Norseknífrknife
5Proto-Germanicknībazpincers; shears; knife
6Proto-Germanicknīpanąto pinch
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneybʰ-

via English Jaw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishJawOne of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth
2Middle Englishjowejaw, jawbone
3Old Frenchjoecheek
4Vulgar Latin*ga(v)ota
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic knīpanąEvery word from Proto-Germanic knībaz
knifejaw — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer