online medical dictionary | definition of razor

1. A keen-edged knife of peculiar shape, used in shaving the hair from the face or the head. "Take thee a barber's rasor."

2. <zoology> A task of a wild boar. Razor fish.

<zoology> A small Mediterranean fish (Coryphaena novacula), prized for the table. The razor shell.

<botany> Razor grass, any marine bivalve shell belonging to Solen and allied genera, especially Solen, or Ensatella, ensis, and Americana, which have a long, narrow, somewhat curved shell, resembling a razor handle in shape. Called also rasor clam, razor fish, knife handle. Razor stone. Same as Novaculite. Razor strap, or razor strop, a strap or strop used in sharpening razors.

Origin: OE. Rasour, OF. Rasur, LL. Rasor: cf. F. Rasoir, LL. Rasorium. See Raze, Rase.

(01 Mar 1998)