shears
sheerz
/ʃɪərz/
A cutting instrument resembling common scissors but typically larger, with one handle loop larger than the other to accommodate multiple fingers.
In crafting, 'shears' are heavy-duty, highly precise cutting tools designed for fabric, leather, or thick cardstock, whereas 'scissors' are smaller, general-purpose tools.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Old English 'sceran', which meant to cut or divide. This Germanic root also gave us words like 'share' (a cut portion), 'shard' (a broken piece), and 'shire' (a division of land).
Word relationships
- scissors: 'Scissors' are generally under 6 inches long with symmetrical finger loops, while 'shears' are longer, heavier, and have asymmetrical loops for better leverage.
- clippers: 'Clippers' cut with a pinching motion (like nail clippers), whereas 'shears' cut with a shearing, sliding motion of two blades.
Commonly confused with
- sheers: 'Sheers' (spelled with double 'e') refers to transparent fabrics or curtains, while 'shears' (with 'ea') are cutting tools.
Word family
- shear (verb): To cut the wool off a sheep or to cut through material.
Collocations
- pinking shears
- fabric shears
- heavy-duty shears
- pair of shears
Example sentences
- "He used a pair of heavy shears to cut through the thick fabric without fraying the edges." A guide to sewing and fabric crafts.
- "Keep a dedicated pair of paper shears at your desk, and never use them to cut wire or plastic." An inventory of essential scrapbooking tools.
Memory hook
Think of 'shear' force. It takes 'shear' force to cut thick leather with heavy 'shears'. Shears are heavy-duty scissors.
When not to use
Do not use 'shears' to describe small, delicate surgical scissors or standard school scissors.
Fun facts
- Pinking shears have saw-toothed blades that cut a zigzag pattern, which prevents woven fabric edges from fraying.
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