Pocketknife vs. Penknife — What's the Difference?

A pocketknife is a foldable knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle. It is also known as a jackknife (jack-knife) or a penknife, though a penknife may also be a specific kind of pocketknife.

Penknife, or pen knife, is a British English term for a small folding knife. Today the word penknife is the common British English term for both a pocketknife, which can have single or multiple blades, and for multi-tools, with additional tools incorporated into the design.Originally, penknives were used for thinning and pointing quills (cf.

A small knife with blades or a blade that can fold into the handle when not in use.

A small pocketknife.

A knife with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into its handle, and of a size small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket, especially when suited to heavier duty uses or ad hoc applications outdoors or in workshops.

(archaic) A small utility knife for cutting the points of quill feathers or reeds into nibs to provide or repair writing implements, early versions were commonly small sheath knives.

A knife with one or more blades, which fold into the handle so as to admit of being carried in the pocket.

(dated) A small knife designed for safe and convenient storage, typically in the form of a miniature clasp-knife, or with blade retractable into the handle.

A knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket

A pocket-knife, especially a small one.

A small pocketknife; formerly, a knife used for making and mending quill pens.

A small pocketknife; originally used to cut quill pens