jackknife
jackknives; jackknifed; jackknifing; jackknifes
A knife with a blade that folds closed is called a jackknife. Most jackknives are compact enough to fit in a pocket, but we don't suggest your taking one to school.
Another name for a jackknife is a pocketknife. Some jackknives have several different blades, all of which fold tidily (and safely) into the body of the knife, while others unfold to reveal a single blade. The bend of a jackknife inspired the name of the dive also called the jackknife, in which the diver's body folds into a V shape and then straightens out before the diver hits the water.
Definitions of jackknife
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a large knife with one or more folding blades
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synonyms:
clasp knife
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type of:
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pocket knife, pocketknife
a knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket
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pocket knife, pocketknife
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a dive in which the diver bends to touch the ankles before straightening out
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dive into the water bending the body at the waist at a right angle, like a jackknife
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type of:
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dive
plunge into water
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dive
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘jackknife'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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