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scissors

A cutting instrument resembling shears, but smaller, consisting of two cutting blades with handles, movable on a pin in the center, by which they are held together. Often called a pair of scissors.

(Science: zoology) [Formerly written also cisors, cizars, and scissars] Scissors grinder, the European goatsucker.

Origin: OE. Sisoures, OF. Cisoires (cf. F. Ciseaux), probably fr. LL. Cisorium a cutting instrument, fr. L. Caedere to cut. Cf. Chisel, Concise. The modern spelling is due to a mistaken derivation from L. Scissor one who cleaves or divides, fr. Scindere, scissum, to cut, spilt.