Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A small knife with blades or a blade that can fold into the handle when not in use.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A knife with one or more blades which fold into the handle, suitable for carrying in the pocket; loosely, a penknife.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A knife with one or more blades, which fold into the handle so as to admit of being carried in the pocket.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A small knife whose blades or tools can fold in its handle, and thereby be safely stowed in one’s pocket.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket
  • noun a knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From pocket + knife.

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Examples

  • The second theme appears to be the apparent discovery by the aforementioned individuals that a pocketknife is actually a functional tool that can be handy for particular tasks.

    Tools and Pocketknives 2009

  • The second theme appears to be the apparent discovery by the aforementioned individuals that a pocketknife is actually a functional tool that can be handy for particular tasks.

    Tools and Pocketknives 2009

  • As far as I can tell, a pocketknife is the kind of gift a cowboy gives to his lady.

    scorpi07 Diary Entry scorpi07 2006

  • His pocketknife was a serviceable one and he had plenty of physical strength.

    The Highgrader William MacLeod Raine 1912

  • I remember when a pocketknife was a wonderful treasure, and a pair of boots the height of all ambition.

    Bill Arp from the uncivil war to date, 1861-1903, 1903

  • Matthew Pucino could withstand the rigors of the Army - but he couldn't sneak a pocketknife past security at Walt Disney World.

    TheState.com: The Buzz 2009

  • A pocketknife for many people can serve as an entire toolbox, and the government really has no business taking that away from them, Pryor said.

    Cut Down a Tree with a Ten-Dollar Knife 2009

  • You'll find out a range of suggested uses for a pocketknife.

    Tools and Pocketknives 2009

  • If the male readers of Esquire require an official endorsement to carry a pocketknife, then by any definition that matters, they're weenies ...

    Tools and Pocketknives 2009

  • A pocketknife for many people can serve as an entire toolbox, and the government really has no business taking that away from them, Pryor said.

    Cut Down a Tree with a Ten-Dollar Knife 2009

Comments

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  • "A knife with one or more blades, which fold into the handle so as to admit of being carried in the pocket."

    --GNU Webster's 1913

    May 1, 2012