shiv
Improvised jail weapon
A shiv is a crude knife or stabbing weapon, typically improvised in prison from available materials—a sharpened toothbrush handle, a filed-down piece of metal.
The word carries a strong association with prison violence: He got shivved in the yard.
Outside prison contexts, shiv appears in crime fiction and slang for any makeshift blade.
Sharp cutting utensil
- bladeFlat cutting edge
- stabPierce with point
- homemadePrepared at one's residence
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
jailhouse · contraband · puncture · slash · cut · pierce · pointed · sharp
Confined facility resident
- cellblockPrison housing unit
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- jailhouseFacility for holding prisoners
- correctionalAimed at rehabilitation
penitentiary · gang · lockdown · yard · shakedown · smuggle · stash · conceal
Created without prior planning
- handmadeCreated manually, not mechanically
- fashionedCreated by shaping
- toothbrushBristled oral cleaning implement
- spoonEating utensil for liquids
comb · plastic · metal · sharpened · filed · honed · melted · taped
Source of potential harm
- dangerExposure to harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- violenceHarmful physical force
- attackAggressive act against another
assault · stabbing · aggression · fear · hostility · confrontation · wound · injury
knife
Sharp cutting utensil
improvised · jailhouse · contraband · puncture · slash · cut · pierce · pointed · sharp · metal
inmate
Confined facility resident
- cellblockPrison housing unit
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- jailhouseFacility for holding prisoners
correctional · penitentiary · gang · lockdown · yard · shakedown · smuggle · stash · conceal · survival
improvised
Created without prior planning
- handmadeCreated manually, not mechanically
- fashionedCreated by shaping
- toothbrushBristled oral cleaning implement
spoon · comb · plastic · metal · sharpened · filed · honed · melted · taped · wrapped
menace
Source of potential harm
- dangerExposure to harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- violenceHarmful physical force
attack · assault · stabbing · aggression · fear · hostility · confrontation · wound · injury · gash
- kniveschef's knife, pocket knife, utility knife, steak knife, boning knife
- British slangblag, bloke, bodge, blagger, bobby
- jailinmate, inmates, prisoner, cells, cell block
- prison riotsuprising, lockdown, inmates, guards, hostages
- prison slangyard, cellie, commissary, lockdown, solitary
- prisoncell block, inmate, jail, prison, prisoner
shivservice weapon
Issued firearm for officials
hunting knife · chef's knife · kitchen knife · utility knife · combat knife
shivcombat knife
Military close-quarters blade
military knife · tactical knife · bayonet · ceremonial sword · samurai sword