# shiv

/ʃˈɪv/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shiv
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a sharp, homemade knife or weapon. People usually use this word when talking about weapons made secretly in prison.

For teachers: a makeshift knife or similar sharp-edged weapon, typically fashioned by an inmate in a prison environment. Often used to refer to any improvised stabbing instrument.

## Examples

- The guards found a shiv hidden under the mattress.
- In the movie, the prisoner sharpened a piece of scrap metal into a shiv for protection.
- The investigation revealed that the weapon used in the yard was a shiv crafted from a sharpened toothbrush handle and a small shard of glass.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a verb meaning to stab someone with such a weapon.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.