snickersnee
nounUK /ˌsnɪk.əˈsniː/ · US /ˌsnɪk.ɚˈsniː/
Etymology An alteration of snick or snee.
1
Dated A large, sword-like knife, especially one used as a weapon.
- As he squirmed and struggled, And gurgled and guggled, I drew my snickersnee, My snickersnee!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:
- "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.a. 1863, William Makepeace Thackeray, Little Billee:
2
Archaic A knife fight.
- Related terms
- snick or snee, snicker-snack