Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “cnīf” come from?

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

cnīf (Old English): knife

Definitions

  1. knife

Ancestry of “cnīf”, step by step

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

Words derived from “cnīf”

  • 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- →