See Also: toothpick(dictionary)
toothpick(dictionary)

toothpick (iou)



toothpick noun & adjective. L15.
[from TOOTH noun + PICK noun1.]
A. noun.
An instrument for picking the teeth, usually a pointed quill or small sliver of wood, sometimes of metal or other material. L15.
A Mediterranean umbelliferous plant, Ammi visnaga, the hardened rays of the umbel of which are or have been used as toothpicks. Also more fully Spanish toothpick. rare (only in Dicts.). L16.
In pl. Splinters, matchwood. Only in hyperbol. phrs., as smashed into toothpicks. M19.
A bowie-knife. Also Arkansas toothpick. US slang. M19.
A very narrow pointed boat. slang. L19.
b. attrib. or as adjective.
Affording sufficient leisure to allow the use of a toothpick, idle, casual. Only in M18.
Of very narrow pointed shape. L19.