knifeful

English

Etymology

knife +‎ -ful

Noun

knifeful (plural knifefuls or knivesful)

1. The amount that can be carried on a knife.
   • 1931, Marie MacKenzie, Trix MacKenzie, Life and Lingo, page 39:

     "I don't wanter hyar uv nary one uv my gals bein' seen on airy street uv thisyer town, a-havin' no flirty flatter talk with thet wild Culberton younun!" was the popular edict that lazy, oafish fathers shot across dinner tables—as they packed down knivesful of baked chicken dressing, and “sooed" saucers of coffee through long mustaches, like muddy water seeping through broom grass!

   • 2007, L. R. Williamson, Prairie Springs, →ISBN, page 259:

     Anna spread a knifeful of preserves across her toast.

   • 2007, Leigh Smith, 'Norvern Monkey', →ISBN, page 27:

     Scraping the goo with the edge of the blade he took each knifeful directly to his mouth, hoping that his atrocious table manners would go unnoticed.

   • 2016, Lisa Kotin, My Confection: Odyssey of a Sugar Addict, →ISBN:

     I grab a jar of sesame tahini from the pantry along with a knife and race up to my room. Crouched down in the corner, I rapidly tongue knifeful after knifeful of the thick, bitter paste into my mouth.

Coordinate terms

• forkful
• spoonful
• sporkful