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clasp-knife (n.)

"knife with one or more blades which fold into the handle," 1743, from clasp (n.) + knife (n.). The thing itself was known to the Etruscans and Romans; it became popular again 17c. 

Entries related to clasp-knife

clasp (n.)

c. 1300, claspe, "metal catch or hook used to hold things together," perhaps a metathesis of clapse, and thus from or related to Old English clyppan "clasp" (see clip (v.2)). As "a clinging or grasping," c. 1600.

knife (n.)
"hand-held cutting instrument consisting of a short blade and handle," late Old English cnif, probably from Old Norse knifr "knife, dirk," from Proto-Germanic *knibaz (source also of Middle Low German knif, Middle Dutch cnijf, German kneif), a word of uncertain origin. To further confuse the etymology, there also are forms in -p-, such as Dutch knijp, German kneip. French canif "penknife" (mid-15c.) is probably of Germanic origin, perhaps from Frankish. For pronunciation, see kn-.

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Dictionary entries near clasp-knife

clarity

Clark

clash

clasp

clasp-hook

clasp-knife

class

classic

classical

classicism

classics

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