paper knife

noun

1. a small, often decorative, knifelike instrument with a blade of metal, ivory, wood, or the like, for slitting open envelopes, the leaves of books, folded papers, etc.

2. the blade of a paper cutter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper knife¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Mo turned around with the paper knife pretending to point it at her threateningly.

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A campaign for Pillsbury relied on a paper knife to highlight the texture of its canned frosting, a stunt that changed many Americans’ perception of the product.

Read more on New York Times

Supposing I were to die, as I sit at this table, playing with my indian paper knife—what would be the difference.

Read more on The New Yorker

It took Reilly about seven minutes to map the route on a computer, print a paper copy, slice it up with a paper knife, then bind it into a neat, 51-page booklet.

Read more on Washington Times

It was an ornamental, stainless-steel object with a pointed blade four to six inches-long, which could have been used as a paper knife, and had been kept in a kitchen display cabinet, he said.

Read more on BBC