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شفره

English translation: knife / cutter

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Persian (Farsi) term or phrase:شفره
English translation:knife / cutter
Entered by: SeiTT

08:59 Sep 11, 2012
Persian (Farsi) to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History / Giveh-making in former times
Persian (Farsi) term or phrase: شفره
Greetings,

All the book tells us is that شفره is a technical term used in giveh-making. This word is singled out as being the only term which is not pure Persian (فارسی‌سَره), and this is obviously the reason why the meaning isn’t given: what is of interest here is the nature of the word, not its meaning.

But what does شفره mean and how is it pronounced, please?

My out-of-date Haim defines it as “skiver”, a word that is now obsolete as far as I can tell, so a more modern definition would be welcome, particularly owing to the obscurity in the meaning of this English word, which I shall now demonstrate.

If you go to the superb online Alpha dictionary collection
http://www.onelook.com/?loc=pub&w=skiver
and select and click on “Webster's Revised Unabridged, 1913 Edition”, you will find this:

Skiv"er (?), n. [Cf. Skewer, Shiver a fragment.]
1. An inferior quality of leather, made of split sheepskin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed. It is used for hat linings, pocketbooks, bookbinding, etc.
2. The cutting tool or machine used in splitting leather or skins, as sheepskins.

You see the problem – this doesn't even tell us if it's a kind of leather or if it's a cutting tool!

I wonder what language it comes from.....

Best wishes, and many thanks,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:46
knife / cutter
Explanation:
www.vajehyab.com/moein/شفره

It's an Arabic word I think.
Selected response from:

Neda Namvar Kohan
Iran
Local time: 04:16
Grading comment
Many thanks, perfect - sorry about the delay.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1knife / cutter
Neda Namvar Kohan


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
knife / cutter


Explanation:
www.vajehyab.com/moein/شفره

It's an Arabic word I think.

Neda Namvar Kohan
Iran
Local time: 04:16
Native speaker of: Native in Persian (Farsi)Persian (Farsi)
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Many thanks, perfect - sorry about the delay.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Edward Plaisance Jr: Dehkhoda indicates it is Arabic...it is a knife for cutting leather
7 hrs
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