dagger: [14] Dagger has an uncertain history. There was a verb dag in Middle English, meaning ‘stab’, which suggests that dagger may simply be ‘something that stabs’, but similarity of form and sense indicates a connection too with Old French dague ‘dagger’. This appears to have come via Old Provençal or Old Italian daga from a hypothetical Vulgar Latin *daca, which meant literally ‘Dacian knife’ (from Latin Dācus ‘Dacian’). Dacia was the ancient name for an area roughly corresponding to modern Romania.
dagger (n.)
late 14c., apparently from Old French dague "dagger," from Old Provençal dague or Italian daga, which is of uncertain origin; perhaps Celtic, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *daca "Dacian knife," from the Roman province in modern Romania. The ending is possibly the faintly pejorative -ard suffix. Attested earlier (1279) as a surname (Dagard, presumably "one who carried a dagger"). Also compare dogwood. Middle Dutch dagge, Danish daggert, German Degen also are from French.
双语例句
1. He drew his dagger and turned to face his pursuers.
他拔出匕首转身面向追他的人。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She was released from prison in a cloak and dagger operation yesterday.
在昨天的一次秘密行动中她从监狱获释。
来自柯林斯例句
3. This sound, like all music, pierced my heart like a dagger.
这种声音像所有的音乐一样，如短剑般直刺我心。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The dagger stuck tightly in the silver scabbard.