sgian-dubh

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sgian-dubh (plural sgian-dubhs or sgians-dubh or (rare) sgianan-dubha)

1. Alternative form of sgian dubh
   • 1866, P. Dun, “The Earl’s Niece”, in Summer at the Lake of Monteith, Glasgow: […] James Hedderwick & Son […], →OCLC, page 41:

     In his hand was a long, sharp-pointed "sgian-dubh," the cherished gift of his father, the plaything of his early youth, and the trusty companion of his manhood and riper years.

From sgian (“knife”) +‎ dubh (“black; (figuratively) hidden”). Sgian is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut; to cut off, sever”); dubh from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“deep”).

• IPA^(key): /s̪kʲənˈt̪u/
• Hyphenation: sgi‧an-dubh

sgian-dubh f (genitive singular sgèine-duibhe, plural sgianan-dubha)

1. sgian dubh