bodkin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal/Literary/Historical
Quick answer
What does “bodkin” mean?
A small, sharply pointed instrument for piercing holes or carrying a cord through fabric or leather.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, sharply pointed instrument for piercing holes or carrying a cord through fabric or leather; a blunt needle.
Historically: a small dagger or stiletto. In printing: a pointed tool for picking type. Archaic/poetic: to sit or ride closely wedged between two others.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties treat the word as historical/archaic. No significant regional difference in core meaning.
Connotations
Connotes antiquity, craft, or archaic violence. Possibly more familiar to UK speakers in literary contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. May be slightly more recognized in UK due to Shakespearean usage (Hamlet: 'When he himself might his quietus make / With a bare bodkin').
Grammar
How to Use “bodkin” in a Sentence
pierce [something] with a bodkinthread [something] using a bodkinsit bodkin (archaic)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bodkin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She carefully bodkinned the leather to create a lacing guide.
American English
- The artisan bodkinned the holes for the binding.
adjective
British English
- The bodkin point was ideal for the delicate work. (attributive use)
American English
- A bodkin incision was made in the fabric. (attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or textile studies contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specialist term in bookbinding, leatherwork, historical reenactment.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bodkin”
- Using it to mean a modern sewing needle. Using it in contemporary contexts without ironic or historical framing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, historical, or literary word. Most native speakers would not use it in daily conversation.
A bodkin is typically blunt, thicker, and used for making holes or carrying cords/ribbons, not for fine sewing with thread like a needle.
Yes, but this is extremely rare and technical (e.g., 'to bodkin a hole'). It is not part of general vocabulary.
Primarily for reading historical texts, Shakespeare, or specialist materials on crafts. It is a word for expanding vocabulary depth, not breadth.
A small, sharply pointed instrument for piercing holes or carrying a cord through fabric or leather.
Bodkin is usually formal/literary/historical in register.
Bodkin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdkɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdkɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ride bodkin (archaic: to sit squeezed between two)”
- “'With a bare bodkin' (Shakespearean quote)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a small, BODy-piercing tool made of KIN (a poetic word for 'family' or 'type') — a tool of a specific, sharp kind.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PRECISE, SHARP INTRUSION. (e.g., 'His criticism was a bodkin to her pride.')
Practice
Quiz
In which famous literary work does a character contemplate suicide 'with a bare bodkin'?