bodkin
To pierce or stab something with a sharp, pointed instrument. It can also refer to the act of squeezing or wedging a person or thing between two others, often in a restricted space.
Exemples
3 sur 5The seamstress had to bodkin the thick fabric to create a path for the heavy cord.
The seamstress had to pierce the thick fabric to create a path for the heavy cord.
In the historical account, the assassin attempted to bodkin the guard through the gaps in his armor.
In the historical account, the assassin attempted to stab the guard through the gaps in his armor.
We managed to bodkin Jerry into the middle of the back seat for the long drive.
We managed to squeeze Jerry into the middle of the back seat for the long drive.
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'body' being 'pinned' or squeezed—'bod-kin'—between two others in a car.
Quiz rapide
With no seats left in the van, I had to ___ between my two cousins for the entire trip.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : bodkin
Exemples
The seamstress had to bodkin the thick fabric to create a path for the heavy cord.
everydayThe seamstress had to pierce the thick fabric to create a path for the heavy cord.
In the historical account, the assassin attempted to bodkin the guard through the gaps in his armor.
formalIn the historical account, the assassin attempted to stab the guard through the gaps in his armor.
We managed to bodkin Jerry into the middle of the back seat for the long drive.
informalWe managed to squeeze Jerry into the middle of the back seat for the long drive.
Literature students often analyze Hamlet's contemplation of whether to bodkin himself to end his suffering.
academicLiterature students often analyze Hamlet's contemplation of whether to stab himself to end his suffering.
The project manager tried to bodkin one last presentation into the already overflowing conference schedule.
businessThe project manager tried to squeeze one last presentation into the already overflowing conference schedule.
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
ride bodkin
To travel in a carriage or car wedged between two other people.
a bare bodkin
An unsheathed dagger (famously used in Shakespeare's Hamlet).
to sit bodkin
To be the person squeezed into the middle of a seat.
Souvent confondu avec
A napkin is a piece of cloth used for wiping lips, while a bodkin is a sharp tool or the act of squeezing.
A Bedouin is a nomadic Arab of the desert, which sounds phonetically similar but is unrelated.
Notes d'usage
While 'bodkin' is most commonly used as a noun for a small tool or dagger, using it as a verb is largely literary or archaic. In modern contexts, it almost exclusively refers to 'sitting bodkin' (squeezing between two people).
Erreurs courantes
Learners often mistake 'bodkin' for a type of clothing because it sounds similar to 'bodice.' Note that it always involves piercing or squeezing.
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'body' being 'pinned' or squeezed—'bod-kin'—between two others in a car.
Origine du mot
Middle English 'boydekin,' which likely referred to a small dagger, possibly of Celtic origin.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
The word is famous in English literature due to Shakespeare’s 'Hamlet,' where a 'bare bodkin' represents a simple tool used for a grave purpose.
Quiz rapide
With no seats left in the van, I had to ___ between my two cousins for the entire trip.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : bodkin
Mots lis
unknown
A1A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.
of
A1A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.
in
A1A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.
it
A1A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.
on
A1A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.
as
A1A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.
this
A1Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.
by
A1A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.
we
A1The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.
or
A1A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.
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