Editing Sgian-dubh (section)

==Etymology and spelling==
The name comes from the [[Scottish Gaelic]] {{lang|gd|sgian-dubh}}, from ''sgian'' ('knife') and ''dubh'' ('black', also with the secondary meaning of 'hidden'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Am Faclair Beag |url=https://www.faclair.com/ |access-date=1 January 2024}}; Compare also other Gaelic word-formations such as {{lang|gd|clàr-dubh}} 'hidden agenda', 
{{lang|gd|dubh-sgeir}} 'hidden (i.e. underwater) [[skerry]]', {{lang|gd|dubh-fhacal}} 'riddle' ({{lit|hidden word}}), {{lang|gd|dubh-cheist}} 'enigma' ({{lit|hidden question}}).</ref>). 
Although ''sgian'' is feminine, so that a modern Gael might refer to a black knife as ''sgian dhubh'', the term for the ceremonial knife is a set-phrase containing a historical form with [[lenition#Blocked lenition|blocked lenition]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Bauer| first = Michael| title = Blas Na Gāidhlig: The Practical Guide to Scottish Gaelic Pronunciation| year = 2011| publisher = Akerbeltz| isbn = 978-1-907165-00-9 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Akerbeltz - An Gobhar Dubh |date=4 August 2023 |title=The homo-organic rule or When not to lenite |url=http://www.akerbeltz.org/index.php?title=The_homo-organic_rule_or_When_not_to_lenite |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=Gaelic Resources on the web}}</ref> 
Other spellings are found in English, including ''skean-dhu''<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Skene dhu |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skean%20dhu |access-date=16 August 2024 |website=Miriam Webster}}</ref> and ''skene-dhu''.<ref>"skene<sup>1</sup>" ''Oxford English Dictionary''. 2nd edition, 1989. [http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50226218?query_type=word&queryword=skene&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&result_place=1&search_id=FOv8-3NMUCy-8022&hilite=50226218] (subscription required).</ref> The Gaelic plural, {{lang|gd|sgianan-dubha}}, is only rarely encountered in English.