snickersnee etymology

Etymology:

  • American English, 1841, perhaps imitative of the sound of its sharp cut

Meaning:

  • A large pocketknife with a long, slender blade
  • A type of dirk or dagger used in the 17th and 18th centuries

Origin:

The word "snickersnee" has a somewhat uncertain origin. It is believed to have originated in the United States during the 19th century. One possible theory is that it is a combination of "snicker," meaning to cut or slash, and "snee," referring to the blade of a knife.

Another theory suggests that the term may have been derived from the Dutch word "snikken," which means to cut or snip. This is supported by the fact that similar knives were used in the Netherlands during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Regardless of its exact origin, the term "snickersnee" has become synonymous with a type of knife that is long, slender, and sharp. It is often associated with swashbuckling pirates and frontier settlers in American history.

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