Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “knyf” come from?

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

knyf (Middle English): A knife as a tool or instrument; the following...

Definitions

  1. A knife as a tool or instrument; the following...

Ancestry of “knyf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishcnīfknife
2Old Norseknífrknife
3Proto-Germanicknībazpincers; shears; knife
4Proto-Germanicknīpanąto pinch
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneybʰ-—

Words derived from “knyf”

  • knife
  • penknife
  • Yellowknife
  • knifepoint
  • knifelike
  • paperknife
  • drawknife
  • knifegrinder
  • knive
  • knifeboard
  • knifeman
  • knifeless
  • knifework
  • cyberknife
  • knifefish
  • knifer
  • knifemaker
  • kniving
  • knifeplay
  • knifemaking
  • knifeproof
  • Yellowknifer
  • deer horn knife
  • deer antler knife
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ- →