paper knife

noun

a small, often decorative, knifelike instrument with a blade of metal, ivory, wood, or the like, for slitting open envelopes, the leaves of books, folded papers, etc.
the blade of a paper cutter.

Origin of paper knife

First recorded in 1800–10

Words nearby paper knife

paper clip, paper cutter, paper doll, paper filigree, paper gold, paper knife, paper match, paper mill worker's disease, paper money, paper mulberry, paper nautilus

Example sentences from the Web for paperknife

  • Hella is painting a paperknife in imitation of tarsia mosaic.

    A Young Girl's Diary |An Anonymous Young Girl

  • He sat drumming on his desk with the antique stainless steel spatula he used as a paperknife.

    Helpfully Yours |Evelyn E. Smith

  • The little judge rapped on the table with his paperknife and urged the reader afresh upon his wild career.

    The Ink-Stain, Complete |Rene Bazin

  • I attacked it bravely, however, hacking my way into it, paperknife in hand.

    Simon the Jester |William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for paperknife

paperknife
/ (ˈpeɪpəˌnaɪf) /

noun plural -knives

a knife with a comparatively blunt blade, esp one of wood, bone, etc, for opening sealed envelopes