Phrase guide

sgian dubh

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /skiː.ənˈduː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ski.ənˈdu/
  • rhymes with -uː

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small, single-edged knife worn tucked into the hose (stocking) as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Scotland

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic sgian-dubh: sgian (“knife”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut; to cut off, sever”)) + dubh (“black; (figurative) hidden”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dhewbh- (“deep”)). The plural form sgianan dubha is also borrowed from Scottish Gaelic.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Russian: скин ду — small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress
  • Scottish Gaelic: sgian-dubh — small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress