Paper knife

Paper knife
Bakelite letter opener

A paper knife or letter opener is a knife-like object used to open envelopes or to slit uncut pages of books. Electric versions are also available, which work by using motors to slide the envelopes across a blade. These have the advantage of being able to handle a greater volume of envelopes, but the blade can slice into the contents of the envelope and damage them.

Letter openers may be composed of wood, metal, plastic, sometimes even ivory, or a combination of materials. Some modern openers have a hidden razor blade inside a plastic handle.

Japanese letter opener
Open a letter

Robert Stewart (Viscount Castlereagh) committed suicide with a pen knife, not a letter opener (as both his article and this page previously erroneously stated), in 1822.[1][2]

Patrick Henry's letter opener

Patrick Henry is famous for making a speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, stating the famous words "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" After this, he pretended to plunge a letter opener into his chest. [3]

  • Opening a letter

  • Electric letter opener

  • Conventional letter opener

References

  1. ^ "Register–Deaths". Blackwood's Magazine (Edinburgh: William Blackwood) 12: 520. October 1822. http://books.google.com/books?id=MbwCAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA520. Retrieved 28 Aug 2011. 
  2. ^ "The Right Honourable Robert Stewart, K.G., Marquis of Londonderry, Viscount Castlereagh; Late Minister of State for Foreign Affairs". Annual Biography and Obituary for the Year 1823 7: 1–62. 1823. http://books.google.com/books?id=ja1CAAAAYAAJ&dq=londonderry&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q=knife&f=falsev. Retrieved 28 Aug 2011. 
  3. ^ Kukla, Amy; Kukla, Jon (2002). Patrick Henry: Voice of the Revolution. PowerPlus Books. pp. 45–46. ISBN 0-8239-5725-X. 

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • paper knife — paper knives also paper knife N COUNT A paper knife is a tool shaped like a knife, which is used for opening envelopes …   English dictionary

  • paper knife — n BrE a knife for opening envelopes …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • paper knife — paper ,knife (plural paper knives) noun count BRITISH a LETTER OPENER …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • paper knife — n. a knifelike blade used to cut sealed envelopes or the uncut pages of books …   English World dictionary

  • paper knife — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms paper knife : singular paper knife plural paper knives British a long thin knife used for opening envelopes …   English dictionary

  • paper-knife — see paper knife …   English dictionary

  • paper knife — noun Date: circa 1807 1. a knife for slitting envelopes or uncut pages 2. the knife of a paper cutter …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • paper knife — pa·per knife || peɪpÉ™(r)‚naɪf letter opener, knife with a thin dull blade designed to open envelopes …   English contemporary dictionary

  • paper knife — noun dull knife used to cut open the envelopes in which letters are mailed or to slit uncut pages of books • Syn: ↑letter opener, ↑paperknife • Hypernyms: ↑knife * * * noun, pl ⋯ knives [count] Brit : ↑letter opener …   Useful english dictionary

  • paper knife — noun (C) BrE a knife for opening envelopes …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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