shiv: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Informal/Slang, Criminal/Jail Slang
Quick answer
What does “shiv” mean?
A makeshift knife or sharp weapon, typically one crudely fashioned by a prisoner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A makeshift knife or sharp weapon, typically one crudely fashioned by a prisoner.
A verb meaning to stab someone with such a weapon. Can metaphorically refer to an act of betrayal or sudden harmful action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an Americanism, but understood in the UK through media. British equivalents might include 'shank' (also prison slang) or more generically 'blade' or 'knife'.
Connotations
Strongly connotes prison violence, criminality, and improvised weaponry in both dialects.
Frequency
Far more frequent in American English, particularly in contexts discussing crime or prisons.
Grammar
How to Use “shiv” in a Sentence
to shiv [someone]to be shivvedgot shivved in the yardVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shiv” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He threatened to shiv the informant if he talked.
- The gang member was shivved in a dispute over territory.
American English
- The inmate got shivved in the shower block.
- He said he'd shiv anyone who touched his stuff.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in sociological or criminological studies discussing prison culture.
Everyday
Very rare in polite conversation; would mark the speaker as familiar with criminal slang.
Technical
Used in law enforcement and correctional facility reports as informal terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shiv”
- Using it as a generic term for any knife in formal contexts.
- Pronouncing it with a long 'i' (/ʃaɪv/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively informal/slang, strongly associated with prisons and criminal activity.
Yes, 'to shiv (someone)' means to stab them with a shiv. The past tense is often 'shivved'.
It is believed to derive from Romani (Gypsy) word 'chiv' or 'chive', meaning knife. It entered Anglo-American criminal slang in the late 19th/early 20th century.
In prison slang, yes, they are often used interchangeably to mean a homemade stabbing weapon. 'Shiv' might be considered slightly older slang.
A makeshift knife or sharp weapon, typically one crudely fashioned by a prisoner.
Shiv: in British English it is pronounced /ʃɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to get shivved (betrayed or attacked)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a prisoner in a SHIVer (shiver) of fear because someone has a SHIV.
Conceptual Metaphor
BETRAYAL IS A STABBING / CONFLICT IS A KNIFE FIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'shiv' MOST appropriately used?