scissors

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

c.1350–1400 Middle English sisoures < Old French cisoires < Vulgar Latin *cīsōria, plural of Late Latin cīsōrium (“‘cutting tool’”) (compare chisel); from Latin word root -cīsus (compare excise) or cæsus, past participle of cædere (“‘to cut’”).

• Current spelling, from the 16th century, is by association with Mediaeval Latin scissor (“tailor”), from Latin carrying the meaning “carver, cutter”, from scindere (“‘to split’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈsɪzəz/, SAMPA: /"sIz@z/
• (US) enPR: sĭzʹərz, IPA: /ˈsɪzɚz/, SAMPA: /"sIz@`z/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɪzə(r)z

[edit] Noun

scissors

1. (plural only; not used in singular form) A type of tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when the handles are closed; the tool is operated by one hand by putting the thumb and a finger or fingers through holes at the ends of the blades that are opposite to the cutting edges.
2. A single pair of scissors.
   • 1947 Jun 22, “Around the Garden”, New York Times:

     Roses will last longer if a knife rather than a scissors is used to cut the blooms.

[edit] Usage notes

• "A pair of scissors" is preferred to "a scissors" by about a four-to-one margin in the US (COCA).
• "The scissors" is preferred to "the scissor" by about a thirty-to-one margin in the US (COCA).

[edit] Synonyms

• (tool used for cutting): pair of scissors

[edit] Derived terms

• scissor

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

scissors

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of scissor.