bodkin

bodkin
\ \ [14] A bodkin was originally a small dagger, and only in the 18th century did it develop the perhaps more familiar sense ‘long blunt needle’. Initially it was a three-syllable word, spelled boidekyn, and its origins are mysterious. Most speculation has centred on Celtic as a source. Welsh bidogdagger’ being cited (the -kin is no doubt a diminutive suffix).

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bodkin — may refer to:* One of the fourteen Tribes of Galway * A bodkin point, a type of arrowhead * A dagger or stiletto knife * A sharp slender instrument for making holes in cloth or a blunt needle with a large eye for drawing tape or ribbon through a… …   Wikipedia

  • Bodkin — Bod kin (b[o^]d k[i^]n), n. [OE. boydekyn dagger; of uncertain origin; cf. W. bidog hanger, short sword, Ir. bideog, Gael. biodag.] 1. A dagger. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bodkin — Bod kin, n. See {Baudekin}. [Obs.] Shirley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bodkin — late 14c., boydekin, of unknown origin. The ending suggests a diminutive formation, and Celtic has been suggested as the source of the root …   Etymology dictionary

  • bodkin — ► NOUN 1) a thick, blunt needle with a large eye, used for drawing tape or cord through a hem. 2) historical a long pin used to fasten women s hair. ORIGIN perhaps of Celtic origin and related to Irish bod, Welsh bidog, Scottish Gaelic biodag… …   English terms dictionary

  • bodkin — [bäd′kin] n. [ME boidekyn, bodekin < ?] 1. Obs. a dagger or stiletto 2. a pointed instrument for making holes in cloth 3. a long, ornamental hairpin 4. a thick, blunt needle for drawing ribbon or tape through a hem, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Bodkin — Pointe bodkin Les pointes bodkin étaient les plus utilisées du fait de leur caractère perforant et de leur facilité de réalisation. Les pointes de flèche type bodkin sont pointues et de section carrée. Elles sont particulièrement perforantes et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bodkin — A small, pointed implement for piercing materials e.g. cloth, leather etc.; a pin used to fasten hair; most familiarly, and later, a *dagger or a stiletto. Bodkin and pin (the seamstress s and hairpin) were used synonymously until the 16c and… …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

  • bodkin — [14] A bodkin was originally a small dagger, and only in the 18th century did it develop the perhaps more familiar sense ‘long blunt needle’. Initially it was a three syllable word, spelled boidekyn, and its origins are mysterious. Most… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • Bodkin-Spitze — „bodkin“ Spitze Die Bodkin Spitze (engl. bodkin: Pfriem, Ahle), auch Ahl Spitze ist eine besondere Form von Kriegs Pfeilspitzen. Es handelt sich dabei um einen schmalen, spitz zulaufenden Vierkant (eine Unterart der sogenannten Panzerbrecher… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”