snickersnee

English

WOTD – 1 July 2008

Etymology

An alteration of snick or snee.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌsnɪk.əˈsniː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌsnɪk.ɚˈsniː/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

snickersnee (plural snickersnees)

1. A large sword-like knife, especially one used as a weapon.
   • 1885, W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, composer, “The criminal cried as he dropped him down”, in […] The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu, London: Chappel & Co., […], →OCLC:

     As he squirmed and struggled,
     And gurgled and guggled,
     I drew my snickersnee,
     My snickersnee!

   • a. 1863, William Makepeace Thackeray, Little Billee:

     "First let me say my catechism, / Which my poor mamy taught to me." / "Make haste, make haste," says guzzling Jimmy, / While Jack pulled out his snickersnee.

2. (archaic) A knife fight.

Related terms

• snick or snee
• snicker-snack

Translations

a large sword-like knife

• Bulgarian: дълъг нож (dǎlǎg nož)
• Finnish: leuku (fi)

a knife fight

• Bulgarian: бой с ножове (boj s nožove)
• Czech: souboj na nože
• Finnish: puukkotappelu
• Russian: сникерсни (ru) m (snikersni)

References

• WorldWideWords.org
• OED