dagger

American  

[dag-er] / ˈdæg ər /

noun

• daggers
  plural

1. 

   a short, swordlike weapon with a pointed blade and a handle, used for stabbing.

2. Also called obelisk. Printing. a mark (†) used especially for references.

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verb (used with object)

1. to stab with or as if with a dagger.

2. Printing. to mark with a dagger.

idioms

1. look daggers at, to look at angrily, threateningly, or with hate.

dagger British  

/ ˈdæɡə /

noun

1. a short stabbing weapon with a pointed blade

2. Also called: obelisk. a character (†) used in printing to indicate a cross reference, esp to a footnote

3. in a state of open hostility

4. to glare with hostility; scowl

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verb

1. to mark with a dagger

2. archaic to stab with a dagger

dagger More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing dagger

• look daggers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• daggers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of dagger

1350–1400; Middle English, probably alteration of Old French dague, of obscure origin; cf. dag ¹

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Explanation

A dagger is a weapon, a sharp knife that's used for self-defense or fighting. During the Late Middle Ages, daggers were a sort of back-up to the longer sword, both carried during battles. Most daggers have a sharp, pointed blade and a handle with a "crossguard" that protects a fighter's hand from sliding forward and getting cut. Throughout history, various kinds of daggers have been used in close combat. The word comes from the Old French dague, though its origin beyond that isn't known. The ancient last name Dagard, dating from the 13th century or earlier, meant "one who carries a dagger."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dagger daggers

Portland guard Damian Lillard shook off uncharacteristically poor free-throw shooting to finish with 21 points and a dagger three-pointer to put the Trail Blazers up by six with 43 seconds left.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

The special power was revealed to be a double dagger enabling "the trustworthy trio", as James A is now calling them, to award two banishment votes to whoever they wanted to hold it.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Princess Ita's coffin also held an especially ornate dagger.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

Did those outfits just put a dagger in the Triple Crown?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

He looked at the dagger in his hand.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

“No matter how many daggers we stared at her, she was unfazed,” said Osada, a graphic designer and occasional live-music photographer who lives in Sunderland, England.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

"Princess Ita was a young woman aged between 28 and 34 with strong upper-body muscle attachments, suggesting she habitually used weapons like maces or daggers," said Hashesh.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

Wealth has a way of sorting relationships when one friend's opulence brings out lustful envy in the others, the deadly sins most likely to drive daggers into the gut of any platonic bond.

From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2025

“H&M and Zara are still seen as fast fashion, but they have been able to escape some of the daggers that have hit Forever 21,” Craig said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2025

Mom has those daggers in her eyes—the sharp points she shoots at people who say dumb things about me—but she stays quiet.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

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