Bŏd'kin, n.
n. [O. Eng. bodekin, boydekin, from W. bidogyn, dagger or poniard, which is also the primary signification of the English word. The W. word is a dim. of bidog, bidogau, hanger, short sword; Ir. bideog, Gael. biodag.]
Sense 1. A dagger. [Obs.]
When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin. Shak.
Sense 2. Hence, an instrument of steel, bone, ivory, or the like, with a small blade, and a sharp point, for making holes by piercing.
Sense 3. (Print.) A sharp tool, used for picking out letters from a column or page in making corrections. Hansard.
Sense 4. An instrument with an eye, for drawing thread, tape, or ribbon through a loop. “Wedged whole ages in a bodkin’s eye.” Pope.
Sense 5. An instrument used to dress or fasten the hair. Pope.
Sense 6. [A corruption of baudkin.] A species of rich cloth, made of silk and gold thread. “Cloth of bodkin.” Shirley.