knife-ear
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From an allusion to the pointed ears common in fantasy depictions of elves. First attested in Dragon Age II (2011) and popularised by its subsequent use in the Dragon Age franchise. Possibly influenced by the earlier round-ear.
Noun edit
knife-ear (plural knife-ears)
- (fantasy, slang, derogatory) An elf.
- 2011, BioWare (developer), David Gaider (lead writer), Dragon Age II, →OCLC, scene: "Girdle of the Elders" codex entry:
- The elf seemed pretty upset when we started pawing at his stuff, especially the belt. Turns out it's some kind of heirloom. The knife-ear claimed that it came from Arlathan, that it had been in his family for generations.
- 2020, 616th Special Information Battalion (trans. ZackZeal), Her Majesty's Swarm: Volume 1, unnumbered page:
- "Hard to believe the elves wiped out the Knights of Saint Augustine. Their captain was capable of summoning the angel, you know? How did a couple of knife-ears stand up to the Kingdom's strongest knights and an angel?”
- 2022, O. C. Presley, Shadowrun: Kings of the Street, unnumbered pages:
- "Get your ass in here. It's time you started acting like the chicano ork you are and not some pansy elf listening to Americano music by yourself all the time. That's what knife-ears do! Now get in here!"
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:knife-ear.