Meaning of bodkin | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A small sharp pointed tool for making holes in cloth or leather.
2. A surname originating as a patronymic.
3. A blunt needle used for threading ribbon or cord through a hem or casing.
4. A hairpin.
5. A dagger.
6. A type of long thin arrowhead.
7. A sharp tool, like an awl, formerly used for pressing down individual type characters (e.g. letters) from a column or page in making corrections.

Equivalents

Examples

“As with compulsory Sunday worship, death for blasphemy was for the third offence. A bodkin, a large blunt needle, was thrust through the tongue for the second offence.”

“A rich, flushed colour—large black eyes—teeth that shone from their brilliant whiteness—a slender shape—and most minute feet, in such little shoes of Cordova leather—a silver chain round her neck, to which hung a medal of the Madonna—a dark-brown boddice and short skirt, relieved by a lacing of scarlet riband—long black hair, bound in one large plait round the head, and fastened by a silver bodkin.”

“When he himſelfe might his Quietus make / With a bare Bodkin?”

“And he smote Corinius on his shaven jowl with the dice box, calling him cheat and mangy rascal, whereupon Corinius drew forth a bodkin to smite him in the neck withal; […]”

“And can a man his own quietus make / with a bare bodkin? / With daggers, bodkins, bullets, man can make / a bruise or break of exit for his life; / but is that a quietus, O tell me, is it quietus?”

CEFR level