switchblade

American  

[swich-bleyd] / ˈswɪtʃˌbleɪd /

noun

1. a pocketknife, the blade of which is held by a spring and can be released suddenly, as by pressing a button.

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switchblade British  

/ ˈswɪtʃˌbleɪd /

noun

1. a knife with a retractable blade that springs out when a button is pressed

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Etymology

Origin of switchblade

First recorded in 1905–10; switch + blade

Example Sentences

AeroVironment’s Switchblade guidable, loitering munitions came to prominence in the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

The Defense Department last week paid AeroVironment $186 million for the first procurement in a five-year, $990 million contract for its Switchblade loitering missile systems.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

Switchblade 600, with its 33-pound payload, can be set up and launched from a tube by a single soldier in 10 minutes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

Turkey supplied missile-firing Bayraktar TB2 drones at the start of the conflict, the US has provided "Switchblade" kamikaze drones, and several countries have sent commercial surveillance drones, such as the Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2024

"The other two curs outa the same litter: Switchblade an' Turkey-Buzzard, over there."

From Lone Star Planet by Piper, H. Beam

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• cannon
• firearm
• gun
• knife
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• machine gun
• missile
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• tear gas