stiletto

[ sti-let-oh ]

noun

, plural sti·let·tos, sti·let·toes.

1. a short dagger with a blade that is thick in proportion to its width.
2. a pointed instrument for making eyelet holes in needlework.
3. spike heel [spahyk, , heel]. stiletto heel ( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, sti·let·toed, sti·let·to·ing.

1. to stab or kill with a stiletto.

stiletto

/ stɪˈlɛtəʊ /

noun

1. a small dagger with a slender tapered blade
2. a sharply pointed tool used to make holes in leather, cloth, etc
3. Also calledspike heelstiletto heel a very high heel on a woman's shoe, tapering to a very narrow tip

verb

1. tr to stab with a stiletto

Other Words From

• sti·let·to·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stiletto¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Italian, equivalent to stil(o) “dagger” (from Latin stilus stylus ) + -etto -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of stiletto¹

C17: from Italian, from stilo a dagger, from Latin stilus a stake, pen; see stylus

Example Sentences

Taylor is dressed in a short black leather jacket, matching shorts and knee-high boots with stiletto heels.

From Los Angeles Times

My favorite was a shirt with a stiletto heel awash in the American flag with “Give Up” printed underneath.

From Slate

She's also got on a wicked pair of chrome knee-high stiletto boots.

From Salon

But in the docuseries, the dancers wear narrow-pointed, thin stiletto heels that aren’t necessarily the safest to dance with and increase the risk of injury.

From Salon

Nearby, Jodi Schwartz, a Palm Beach County Republican who wore a bedazzled Trump pin next to one that featured the state of Florida inside a stiletto shoe, cheerfully described her experience at the convention so far.

From Slate

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