stiletto Meaning & Definition
What Does Stiletto Mean?
Stiletto is a noun that means a slender dagger with a blade thick in proportion to its breadth. It can also mean a pointed instrument for piercing holes for eyelets or embroidery.
Word Facts for Stiletto
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /stə-ˈle-(ˌ)tō/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Plural | stilettos |
| First known use | 1611 |
Stiletto Definition (Noun)
- a slender dagger with a blade thick in proportion to its breadth
- a pointed instrument for piercing holes for eyelets or embroidery
- stiletto heel
- a shoe with a stiletto heel
Synonyms of Stiletto
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Stiletto synonyms and antonyms →Stiletto in a Sentence
Her stiletto heels would cause damage if she ever stepped on someone's foot with them.
Word Forms & Grammar
sti·let·tos
sti·let·toes
stiletto
stiletto heel
stilettoes
stilettos
stiletto (plural stilettos or stilettoes or stiletti)
stiletto (third-person singular simple present stilettos, present participle stilettoing, simple past and past participle stilettoed)
Words That Rhyme With Stiletto
Origin of Stiletto
Origin 1: Italian, diminutive of stilo stylus, dagger, from Latin stilus stylus style
Origin 2: Unadapted borrowing from Italian stiletto. By surface analysis, stilus + Italian -etto. Doublet of stilet and stylet.
Origin 3: This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. Particularly: “When and whence did the fashion term originate?”
First Known Use
circa 1611
How Do You Say Stiletto?
The standard pronunciation of stiletto is /stə-ˈle-(ˌ)tō/, spoken in 3 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (le).