/ Dictionary / Index P penknife: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: pen•knife Pronunciation: (pen'nīf"), [key] — pl. -knives. a small pocketknife, formerly one used for making and sharpening quill pens. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: penknife (Thesaurus) Penki penlight Related Content Daily Word Quiz: simian Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language