scissors English · revision 1157

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɪzəz/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɪzɚz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''sisoures'', ''cisours'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|cisoires|t=shears]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-vul|*cisoria|t=cutting instrument]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''*cīsus'', abstracted from compounds such as ''excīsus'', the past participle of ''excīdere'' “to cut out”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) ultimately from [[la|caedo|t=to cut]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The spelling with ''sc-'' (16th century) was influenced by [[la-med|scissor|t=tailor]], from the unrelated ''scindere'' “to split”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A cutting tool of two pivoted blades (about 1380–84).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spelling was unsettled until the 20th century.^(Etymonline) The word is usually used with ''pair of'' (from about 1400) to indicate one tool;^(Etymonline) a singular form was occasionally used in the 15th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The OED notes that in England ''shears'' is generally used only for tools too large to work with one hand, while in Scotland it covers all sizes.^(Etymonline) A wrestling hold with the legs has been called ''scissors'' since 1904,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a swimming kick since 1902.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1380 – ''sisoures''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1400 – ''pair of scissors''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – spelling with ''sc-''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1843 – ''Oh scissors!'', an exclamation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1904 – a wrestling hold.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A cutting tool with two blades whose edges slide past each other, each with a ring-shaped handle, often called ''a pair of scissors''.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A gymnastic or exercise movement in which the legs open and close like scissors.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In [[wrestling]], a hold made by clasping the legs around the opponent's body or head.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scissor]]

+ * [[scissors-and-paste]]

+ * [[nail scissors]]

+ * [[scissors kick]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shears]]

+ * [[chisel]]

+ * [[excise]]

+ * [[incision]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster and Random House note that ''scissors'' is plural in form but may be used with a singular or plural verb.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Wiktionary notes that in American usage ''a pair of scissors'' is preferred to ''a scissors'' by about four to one.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}