snickersnee

[ snik-er-snee ]

noun

1. a knife, especially one used as a weapon.

snickersnee

/ ˈsnɪkəˌsniː /

noun

1. a knife for cutting or thrusting
2. a fight with knives

Word History and Origins

Origin of snickersnee¹

1690–1700; variant (by alliterative assimilation) of earlier stick or snee to thrust or cut < Dutch steken to stick ² + snij ( d ) en to cut

Word History and Origins

Origin of snickersnee¹

C17 stick or snee, from Dutch steken to stick ² + snijen to cut

Example Sentences

The tongs went at it down there with hatchets and snickersnees, rival gangs of fallen men with names like Mock Duck and Girl Face.

From New York Times

The only two considerable alterations have to do with the word snickersnee, the history of which is now clearly traced, and the name Bendigo.

From Project Gutenberg

You only did about ten days' work yesterday in ten minutes, swinging this frightful snickersnee of yours.

From Project Gutenberg

"Make haste, make haste," says guzzling Jimmy While Jack pulled out his snickersnee.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the Prime Minister shouldered his faithful "snickersnee" and went forth as executioner.

From Project Gutenberg