Shiv
/ʃɪv/noun
A knife or improvised sharp weapon, especially one used as a stabbing weapon.
Did you know?Unlike words like "glamour" or "disaster," "shiv" has no ancient magical root; it’s a relatively recent slang term whose origin is uncertain, though it became deeply embedded in criminal and prison English.
Etymological Timeline
Early 20th Century
English
shiv
“A concealed knife or stabbing weapon, especially in criminal slang.”
Early 20th Century
English
chiv
“A knife or razor used as a weapon; also a verb meaning to stab or attack with a knife.”
Unknown
English
shiv
“Possibly from an earlier slang term or altered form; the exact etymology is uncertain.”
Modern English
English
shiv
“A makeshift stabbing weapon, especially in prisons or criminal settings.”