"Swiss Army knife" meaning in English

See Swiss Army knife in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: Swiss Army knives [plural]
Etymology: From the prominent (although not exclusive) association of this type of knife with officers of the Swiss Army; see Swiss Army knife § History for details. Head templates: {{en-noun|Swiss Army knives|head=Swiss Army knife}} Swiss Army knife (plural Swiss Army knives)
  1. Any of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers. Categories (topical): Knives, Tools Categories (place): Switzerland Synonyms: Swiss Army penknife Translations (type of pocket knife): سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ (sikkīn swīsiriyy) [masculine] (Arabic), швейца́рско но́жче (švejcársko nóžče) [neuter] (Bulgarian), navalla suïssa [feminine] (Catalan), 瑞士軍刀 (Chinese Mandarin), 瑞士军刀 (Ruìshì jūndāo) (Chinese Mandarin), 瑞士刀 (Ruìshìdāo) (Chinese Mandarin), 瑞士軍官刀 (Chinese Mandarin), 瑞士军官刀 (Ruìshì jūnguān dāo) (Chinese Mandarin), švýcarský nůž [masculine] (Czech), schweizerkniv [common-gender] (Danish), Zwitsers zakmes [neuter] (Dutch), Sveitsin armeijan veitsi (Finnish), sveitsinveitsi (Finnish), couteau suisse [masculine] (French), Schweizer Messer [neuter] (German), Schweizer Offiziersmesser [neuter] (German), Schweizer Taschenmesser [neuter] (German), ελβετικός σουγιάς (elvetikós sougiás) [masculine] (Greek), svájci bicska (Hungarian), scian airm Eilvéiseach [feminine] (Irish), coltellino svizzero [masculine] (Italian), アーミーナイフ (āmī-naifu) (Japanese), スイスアーミーナイフ (suisu-āmī-naifu) (Japanese), Швейцарийн армийн хутга (Švejcariin armiin xutga) (Mongolian), چاقوی سوئیسی (čǎqu-ye suisi) (Persian), szwajcarski nóż oficerski [masculine] (Polish), canivete suíço [masculine] (Portuguese), швейца́рский арме́йский нож (švejcárskij arméjskij nož) [masculine] (Russian), швейца́рский нож (švejcárskij nož) [masculine] (Russian), navaja suiza [feminine] (Spanish), schweizisk armékniv [common-gender] (Swedish), มีดพับสวิส (mêet páp sàwìt) (Thai)
    Sense id: en-Swiss_Army_knife-en-noun-RYhbPz2O Disambiguation of Knives: 77 23 Disambiguation of Tools: 67 33 Disambiguation of Switzerland: 52 48 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 70 30 Disambiguation of 'type of pocket knife': 88 12
  2. (figuratively, by extension) A tool that has many functions, one for every perceivable need. Tags: broadly, figuratively Categories (place): Switzerland
    Sense id: en-Swiss_Army_knife-en-noun-lcb-x4Kc Disambiguation of Switzerland: 52 48

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for Swiss Army knife meaning in English (6.8kB)

{
  "etymology_text": "From the prominent (although not exclusive) association of this type of knife with officers of the Swiss Army; see Swiss Army knife § History for details.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "Swiss Army knives",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Swiss Army knives",
        "head": "Swiss Army knife"
      },
      "expansion": "Swiss Army knife (plural Swiss Army knives)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "70 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "77 23",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Knives",
          "orig": "en:Knives",
          "parents": [
            "Tools",
            "Technology",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "67 33",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "en:Tools",
          "parents": [
            "Technology",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "52 48",
          "kind": "place",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Switzerland",
          "orig": "en:Switzerland",
          "parents": [
            "Europe",
            "Earth",
            "Eurasia",
            "Nature",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers."
      ],
      "id": "en-Swiss_Army_knife-en-noun-RYhbPz2O",
      "links": [
        [
          "pocket knives",
          "pocket knife"
        ],
        [
          "multitool",
          "multitool"
        ],
        [
          "blade",
          "blade"
        ],
        [
          "screwdriver",
          "screwdriver"
        ],
        [
          "can opener",
          "can opener"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "70 30",
          "word": "Swiss Army penknife"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "sikkīn swīsiriyy",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "švejcársko nóžče",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "швейца́рско но́жче"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "navalla suïssa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "瑞士軍刀"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "Ruìshì jūndāo",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "瑞士军刀"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "Ruìshìdāo",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "瑞士刀"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "瑞士軍官刀"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "Ruìshì jūnguān dāo",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "瑞士军官刀"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "švýcarský nůž"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "schweizerkniv"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Zwitsers zakmes"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "Sveitsin armeijan veitsi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "sveitsinveitsi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "couteau suisse"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Schweizer Messer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Schweizer Offiziersmesser"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Schweizer Taschenmesser"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "elvetikós sougiás",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "ελβετικός σουγιάς"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "svájci bicska"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "scian airm Eilvéiseach"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "coltellino svizzero"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "āmī-naifu",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "アーミーナイフ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "suisu-āmī-naifu",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "スイスアーミーナイフ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "mn",
          "lang": "Mongolian",
          "roman": "Švejcariin armiin xutga",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "Швейцарийн армийн хутга"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "čǎqu-ye suisi",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "چاقوی سوئیسی"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "szwajcarski nóż oficerski"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "canivete suíço"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "švejcárskij arméjskij nož",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "швейца́рский арме́йский нож"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "švejcárskij nož",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "швейца́рский нож"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "navaja suiza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "schweizisk armékniv"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "th",
          "lang": "Thai",
          "roman": "mêet páp sàwìt",
          "sense": "type of pocket knife",
          "word": "มีดพับสวิส"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "52 48",
          "kind": "place",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Switzerland",
          "orig": "en:Switzerland",
          "parents": [
            "Europe",
            "Earth",
            "Eurasia",
            "Nature",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A tool that has many functions, one for every perceivable need."
      ],
      "id": "en-Swiss_Army_knife-en-noun-lcb-x4Kc",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figuratively, by extension) A tool that has many functions, one for every perceivable need."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "figuratively"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Swiss Armed Forces",
    "Swiss Army knife",
    "Swiss Army knife#History"
  ],
  "word": "Swiss Army knife"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English nouns",
    "en:Knives",
    "en:Switzerland",
    "en:Tools"
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From the prominent (although not exclusive) association of this type of knife with officers of the Swiss Army; see Swiss Army knife § History for details.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "Swiss Army knives",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Swiss Army knives",
        "head": "Swiss Army knife"
      },
      "expansion": "Swiss Army knife (plural Swiss Army knives)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Any of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "pocket knives",
          "pocket knife"
        ],
        [
          "multitool",
          "multitool"
        ],
        [
          "blade",
          "blade"
        ],
        [
          "screwdriver",
          "screwdriver"
        ],
        [
          "can opener",
          "can opener"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A tool that has many functions, one for every perceivable need."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figuratively, by extension) A tool that has many functions, one for every perceivable need."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "figuratively"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "Swiss Army penknife"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "sikkīn swīsiriyy",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "švejcársko nóžče",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "швейца́рско но́жче"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "navalla suïssa"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "瑞士軍刀"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "Ruìshì jūndāo",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "瑞士军刀"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "Ruìshìdāo",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "瑞士刀"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "瑞士軍官刀"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "Ruìshì jūnguān dāo",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "瑞士军官刀"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "švýcarský nůž"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "schweizerkniv"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Zwitsers zakmes"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "Sveitsin armeijan veitsi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "sveitsinveitsi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "couteau suisse"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Schweizer Messer"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Schweizer Offiziersmesser"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Schweizer Taschenmesser"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "elvetikós sougiás",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "ελβετικός σουγιάς"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "svájci bicska"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "scian airm Eilvéiseach"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "coltellino svizzero"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "āmī-naifu",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "アーミーナイフ"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "suisu-āmī-naifu",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "スイスアーミーナイフ"
    },
    {
      "code": "mn",
      "lang": "Mongolian",
      "roman": "Švejcariin armiin xutga",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "Швейцарийн армийн хутга"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "čǎqu-ye suisi",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "چاقوی سوئیسی"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "szwajcarski nóż oficerski"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "canivete suíço"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "švejcárskij arméjskij nož",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "швейца́рский арме́йский нож"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "švejcárskij nož",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "швейца́рский нож"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "navaja suiza"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "schweizisk armékniv"
    },
    {
      "code": "th",
      "lang": "Thai",
      "roman": "mêet páp sàwìt",
      "sense": "type of pocket knife",
      "word": "มีดพับสวิส"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Swiss Armed Forces",
    "Swiss Army knife",
    "Swiss Army knife#History"
  ],
  "word": "Swiss Army knife"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.