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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of toothpick

First recorded in 1480–90; tooth + pick ²

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

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 • Sep. 15, 2025

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

He reclaimed his toothpick from the desk and walked outside.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys