English word knife comes from Proto-Indo-European *gneibʰ-, Proto-Indo-European *gen-, Proto-Germanic *knīfą (Knife, pinch, squeeze.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *gneibʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to pinch, nip |
| *gen- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to pinch, squeeze, bend, press together, ball3, to pinch, squeeze, bend, press, ball up |
| *knīfą | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Knife, pinch, squeeze. |
| *knīpaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *gneybʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *knībaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Knife. Pincers; shears. |
| cnif | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | Knife. |
| *ᚲᚾᛁᛒᚨᛉ | Proto-Norse (gmq-pro) | |
| knífr | Old Norse (non) | Knife. |
| cnīf | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | |
| knif | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | Knife. |
| knife | English (en) | 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.. A weapon designed with the aforementioned specifications intended for slashing and/or stabbing and too short to be called a sword. A dagger.. Any blade-like part in a tool [...] |