A stiletto (plural stilettos[1]) is a specialized dagger with a long slender blade and needle-like point, primarily intended as a thrusting and stabbing weapon.[2][3]
The stiletto blade's narrow cross-section and acuminated tip (that is, a tip which tapers to a sharp point) reduce friction upon entry, allowing the blade to penetrate deeply.[2][4] Some consider the stiletto a form of dagger, but most stilettos are specialized thrusting weapons not designed for cutting or slashing, even with edged examples.[2][5]
Over time, the term stiletto has been used as a general descriptive term for a variety of knife blades exhibiting a narrow blade with minimal cutting surfaces and a needle-like point, such as the U.S. V-42 stiletto. In American English usage, the name stiletto can also refer to a switchblade knife with a stiletto- or bayonet-type blade design.[6] The term may also describe any exaggeratedly thin and pointed feature, such as a stiletto heel.
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