World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesstiletto
Pronunciation / Transliteration: stiˈlɛt.to
"Hanno trovato un piccolo stiletto nascosto nella cella."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A crude, makeshift knife or sharp-pointed weapon, typically improvised by inmates in prisons.
"Security guards discovered a metal shiv hidden inside the mattress."
- 1
To stab or slash someone with a shiv or similar improvised bladed weapon.
"He was shivved in the prison yard during a sudden brawl."
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in mid-20th-century American prison slang, the term likely derives from the Romani word chiv, meaning 'knife' or 'blade'. Over decades, it evolved into both a noun describing a crude makeshift weapon and a verb denoting the act of stabbing with such an implement.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Shiv"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Shiv" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
poinçon
Transliteration: pwɛ̃.sɔ̃
"Il a fabriqué un poinçon artisanal en prison."
Stichwaffe
Transliteration: ˈʃtɪçˌvafə
"Der Gefangene versteckte eine improvisierte Stichwaffe."
stiletto
Transliteration: stiˈlɛt.to
"Hanno trovato un piccolo stiletto nascosto nella cella."
puñal
Transliteration: puˈɲal
"Encontraron un puñal casero debajo del colchón."
chucho
Transliteration: ˈʃu.ʃu
"O detento foi pego com um chucho artesanal."
छुरा
Transliteration: chhurā
"कैदियों ने बैरक में एक छुपा हुआ छुरा बरामद किया।"
自制匕首
Transliteration: zìzhì bǐshǒu
"警卫在犯人的床垫下搜出一把自制匕首。"
사제 흉기
Transliteration: saje hyung-gi
"교도관들이 수감자의 방에서 사제 흉기를 발견했다."
手製ナイフ
Transliteration: te-sei naifu
"受刑者の寝具から手製ナイフが見つかった。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
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