n.pl. 1 (also pair of scissors sing.) an instrument for cutting fabric, paper, hair, etc., having two pivoted blades with finger and thumb holes in the handles, operating by closing on the material to be cut. 2 (treated as sing.) a a method of high-jumping with a forward and backward movement of the legs. b a hold in wrestling in which the opponent's body or esp. head is gripped between the legs. scissor-bill = SKIMMER 4. scissor-bird (or -tail) a fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus. scissors and paste a method of compiling a book, article, etc., from extracts from others or without independent research. scissorwise adv.
[ ME sisoures f. OF cisoires f. LL cisoria pl. of cisorium cutting instrument (as CHISEL): assoc. with L scindere sciss- cut ]