knyf

Middle English

Alternative forms

• knijf, cnif, knife, knif, knyffe, knyȝf, cnyffe, knyve, knyv, chnief, knefe, knyfe

Etymology

From Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, from Proto-Germanic *knībaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kniːf/

Noun

knyf (plural knyves or knyfes)

1. A knife as a tool or instrument; the following special senses exist:
   1. A knife used in surgery.
   2. A kitchen knife.
2. A knife or dagger (weapon)

Usage notes

In Middle English, if a vowel, especially i or y, was followed by a consonant, the consonant being itself followed by a silent e, the vowel would still be long if the e was omitted, so it was sometimes omitted.

Related terms

• penne knyfe

Descendants

• English: knife
  • Sranan Tongo: nefi
  • → Japanese: ナイフ
• Scots: knyfe, knife
• Yola: kunnife
• → French: canif

References

• “knīf, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-24.