| Occam's razor | The principle of scientific parsimony. William of Occam (14th Century) stated it thus: "The assumptions introduced to explain a thing must not be multiplied beyond necessity." (05 Mar 2000) |
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| 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| razor-backed | <zoology> Having a sharp, lean, or thin back; as, a razor-backed hog, perch, etc. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |