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.

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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

Explanation

A toothpick is a device made for cleaning bits of food out of your teeth. Toothpicks are also used to pick up small appetizers or other tidbits. At a fancy party, use toothpicks for eating hors d'oeuvres, not for digging food out of your teeth! Tooth-picking is, in fact, the original intended use of these handy tools. Experts believe that toothpicks were invented long before modern humans evolved—there's evidence that Neanderthals used toothpicks. In the 17th century, toothpicks were a luxury (and sometimes made of silver), but by the early 20th century, factories were mass producing wooden toothpicks for everyone to enjoy.

Example Sentences

He recommends a toothpick or one of iFixit’s $15 cleaning kits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

For instance, there’s stuzzichini, which according to Ferrari is a derivative of the word for toothpick, stuzzicadenti.

From Salon • Jul. 23, 2024

And when a Labrador retriever owned by another company officer gulped down a bagel impaled with a toothpick, he said, most of the resulting $10,5000 surgical bill was covered as well.

From New York Times • Jun. 7, 2024

Baker’s genuine care and love for people will live on in his remarkable legacy as much as that signature toothpick, his sports wisdom and winning into his mid-70s.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2023

Did Cora notice that there was no sign that someone had lived there, not even an old toothpick or a nail in the wall?

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead