From Middle English sisoures (attested since 1350–1400), from Old French cisoires, from Vulgar Latin *cīsōria, plural of Late Latin cīsōrium (“cutting tool”) (compare chisel); from Latin word root -cīsus (compare excise) or cæsus, past participle of cædere (“to cut”).
- The current spelling, from the 16th century, is due to association with Medieval Latin scissor (“tailor”), from Latin carrying the meaning “carver, cutter”, from scindere (“to split”).
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈsɪzəz/
- (US) enPR: sĭzʹərz, IPA(key): /ˈsɪzɚz/
Audio (US) (file)
Audio (UK) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɪzə(r)z
scissors (plural only)
- (countable, plural in form, usually with a plural verb) A tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when the handles are closed.
- Those scissors are sharp. (indicating singular or plural scissors)
- That scissors is sharp. (less commonly to indicate singular scissors)
- Scissors are used to cut the flowers.
- Use a scissors to cut them if you don't have proper shears.
1947 Jun 22, “Around the Garden”, New York Times:
- Roses will last longer if a knife rather than a scissors is used to cut the blooms.
- (countable, rugby) An attacking move conducted by two players; the player without the ball runs from one side of the ball carrier, behind the ball carrier, and receives a pass from the ball carrier on the other side.
- They executed a perfect scissors.
- (countable, skating) A method of skating with one foot significantly in front of the other.
- (countable, gymnastics) An exercise in which the legs are switched back and forth, suggesting the motion of scissors.
- (countable, wrestling) A scissors hold.
- "A pair of scissors" is preferred to "a scissors" by about a four-to-one margin in the US (COCA).
- "The scissors" is preferred to "the scissor" by about a thirty-to-one margin in the US (COCA).
- third-person singular simple present indicative form of scissor