noun

penknife

pocket knife

He used his penknife to open the letter.

He used his penknife to open the letter.

A penknife is useful for camping trips.

A penknife is useful for camping trips.

((a)) penknife a small knife that folds into a handle He always carries a penknife.

pocket knife, jackknife

From 'pen' + 'knife'. Originally, these small knives were used for sharpening quill pens.

Imagine a knife small enough to fit in a pen case, used for sharpening pens.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.