Clasp-knife

Alternative forms

• clasp knife

Full definition of clasp-knife

Noun

1. A knife with a folding blade or blades.
• 1886, Robert Michael Ballantyne, Red Rooney“Well, this knife is called a clasp-knife, because it shuts and opens, as you see, and it has three blades — a big one for cuttin’ up your victuals with, as you see me doin’; and two little ones for parin’ your nails and pickin’ your teeth, an’ mendin’ pens an’ pencils — though of course you don’t know what that means.”

Synonyms

• pocket knife