scissors

scissors
scissors late 14c., sisoures, from O.Fr. cisoires (pl.) "shears," from V.L. *cisoria (pl.) "cutting instrument," from *cisus (in compounds such as L. excisus, pp. of excidere "to cut out"), ultimately from L. caedere "to cut" (see -CIDE (Cf. -cide)). Spelling with sc- is 16c., from influence of M.L. scissor "tailor," from L. "carver, cutter," from pp. stem of scindere "to split." Usually with pair of (attested from c.1400) when indication of just one is required, but a sing. form without the -s was occasionally used (mid-15c., cysowre). In Scotland, SHEARS (Cf. shears) answers for all sizes; but in England generally that word is used only for those too large to be worked by one hand. Sense in wrestling is from 1904. Oh scissors! was a 19c. exclamation of impatience or disgust.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Scissors — are hand operated cutting instruments consisting of a pair of metal blades connected in such a way that the blades meet and cut materials placed between them when the handles are brought together. They are used for cutting various thin materials …   Wikipedia

  • scissors — is treated as a plural noun in its basic meaning (The scissors are in the drawer), but has a singular use in certain sports, where it is usually elliptical for a longer phrase such as scissors movement or scissors pass (The ordinary scissors is… …   Modern English usage

  • Scissors — Scis sors, n. pl. [OE. sisoures, OF. cisoires (cf. F. ciseaux), probably fr. LL. cisorium a cutting instrument, fr. L. caedere to cut. Cf. {Chisel}, {Concise}. The modern spelling is due to a mistaken derivation from L. scissor one who cleaves or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scissors — Scissors, TX U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 2805 Housing Units (2000): 673 Land area (2000): 1.707375 sq. miles (4.422082 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.707375 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Scissors, TX — U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 2805 Housing Units (2000): 673 Land area (2000): 1.707375 sq. miles (4.422082 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.707375 sq. miles (4.422082 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • scissors — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) (also a pair of scissors) an instrument used for cutting cloth and paper, consisting of two crossing blades pivoted in the middle and operated by thumb and fingers inserted in rings at each end. 2) (also scissor) (before another… …   English terms dictionary

  • scissors — [siz′ərz] n. [ME sisoures < OFr cisoires < LL cisoria, pl. of cisorium, cutting tool < L caedere, to cut: E sp. altered by assoc. with L scissor, one who cuts < scissus, pp. of scindere, to cut] 1. [also with pl. v.] a cutting… …   English World dictionary

  • scissors — n. 1) to use scissors 2) to sharpen scissors 3) bandage (AE); manicure; nail scissors 4) a pair of scissors * * * [ sɪzəz] manicure nail scissors a pair of scissors to sharpen scissors to use scissors …   Combinatory dictionary

  • scissors —    As with *knives and other sharp objects, tradition dictates that anyone who receives scissors as a present must give the donor a coin, otherwise the gift will cut the love between them. The earliest known references (1507 and 1611) relate to… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • scissors — /siz euhrz/, n. 1. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) a cutting instrument for paper, cloth, etc., consisting of two blades, each having a ring shaped handle, that are so pivoted together that their sharp edges work one against the other (often used… …   Universalium

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