bodkin

Bodkin is a term with several related meanings, spanning weapons and tools used in crafts. In historical weaponry, a bodkin can refer to a short, slender dagger with a pointed blade intended for stabbing. The word also designates a type of arrowhead, known as a bodkin point, which is narrow and sharp to pierce mail or light armor. Bodkin daggers and bodkin-point arrows appear in medieval Europe and are mentioned in literature and art as practical or symbolic weapons.

In crafts, a bodkin is a slender hand tool used in sewing and leatherworking. In sewing, a bodkin is a blunt, needle-like implement used to thread ribbon or draw cords through fabric casings. In leatherworking, a bodkin may refer to a pointed awl or punch used to pierce holes for stitching or lacing and to widen or finish holes.

The versatility of the term has led to its use in various specialized contexts, but the common thread is a long, pointed or slender tool designed to penetrate or pass through material, whether fabric, leather, or armor. The word remains a standard reference in historical discussions of medieval arms and in craft manuals and textiles.