toothpick

American  

[tooth-pik] / ˈtuθˌpɪk /

noun

1. a small pointed piece of wood, plastic, etc., for removing substances, especially food particles, from between the teeth. tooth.

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toothpick British  

/ ˈtuːθˌpɪk /

noun

1. a small sharp sliver of wood, plastic, etc, used for extracting pieces of food from between the teeth

2. a slang word for bowie knife

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Etymology

Origin of toothpick

First recorded in 1480–90; tooth + pick ²

Example Sentences

Even the way she chomps a cherry off a cocktail toothpick has menace.

From Los Angeles Times

A brown foal with a white stripe on its muzzle teetered on toothpick legs.

From Los Angeles Times

If you want to go the skewer route: pick one cheese and one meat, attach them to a long toothpick separated by some sort of produce like a tomato, strawberry, grape or basil leaf.

From Salon

All the toothpick stuff, that was her idea.

From Los Angeles Times

“I was just eating those little sausages on the toothpicks, walking and walking. It was too cold to walk outside. I thought, `I’ve got to buy something here.’

From Los Angeles Times