はさみ切きる

は

さ

み

き

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

snip off; clip off; trim off

rare term

Describes cutting something off with scissors or a similar tool by pinching and cutting in one motion. It is a rare term, but it is understandable from its components.

糸いとの端はしをはさみ切きる。
Snip off the end of the thread.
枝えだをはさみ切きって整ととのえる。
Trim off the branches to tidy them up.

Written forms

はさみ切きる
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most common written form.
挟はさみ切きる
Uses the kanji 挟 (to hold between), emphasizing the pinching action before cutting.
剪はさみ切きる
Uses the kanji 剪 (to clip, prune), but this spelling is very rare and may not be recognized by many readers.

Kanji

切cut, cutoff, be sharp
挟pinch, between
剪clip, snip, cut

Similar words

切きり取とる
切り取る means to cut off and remove a piece, often with scissors or a knife, but does not emphasize the pinching action of はさみ切る.
はさむ
はさむ means to hold or pinch between two things, but does not include the cutting action.

Etymology

Compound of はさみ (continuative form of はさむ, 'to pinch, hold between') + 切る (きる, 'to cut'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent from its parts.