stiletto

[sti-let-oh]

noun

plural

stilettos, stilettoes 

1. a short dagger with a blade that is thick in proportion to its width.

2. a pointed instrument for making eyelet holes in needlework.

3. spike heel. stiletto heel.

verb (used with object)

stilettoed, stilettoing 

1. to stab or kill with a stiletto.

stiletto

/ stɪˈlɛtəʊ /

noun

1. a small dagger with a slender tapered blade

2. a sharply pointed tool used to make holes in leather, cloth, etc

3. Also called: spike heel.  stiletto heel. a very high heel on a woman's shoe, tapering to a very narrow tip

verb

1. (tr) to stab with a stiletto

Other Word Forms

• stilettolike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stiletto¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Italian, equivalent to stil(o) “dagger” (from Latin stilus stylus ) + -etto -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of stiletto¹

C17: from Italian, from stilo a dagger, from Latin stilus a stake, pen; see _stylus

Example Sentences

Then, moments later, there she is again: Exiting the White House, coolly lethal in sunglasses, stilettos and a funnel neck MaxMara coat the color of a tawny marmalade.

Read more on Salon

On cue, her stiletto heel breaks and Lexi loses her balance, tumbling out of that open window to her death.

Read more on Salon

And since the audience, which is admitted in groups of 60 at 15-minute intervals, will largely be standing or walking on varied surfaces during the two-hour running time, stilettos are forbidden.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One studio manager recalled that her habit of striding across the studio in stiletto heels damaged the floor but no-one had the courage to tell her.

Read more on BBC

The teaser for the film gives nothing away - the famous red stiletto heel from the first film's promotional poster is appropriately joined by a second, identical shoe.

Read more on BBC

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