subs. phr. (American).—A large sheath-knife: orig. a BOWIE-KNIFE (q.v.).

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  1854.  MARTIN and AYTOUN, Bon Gaultier Ballads.

        ‘Straightway leaped the valiant Slingby
  Into armor of Seville,
With a strong ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK,
  Screwed in every joint of steel.’

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  1881.  GREENLEAF, Ten Years in Texas, 27. All these [men] … could be seen with a Navy six-shooter and an ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK suspended to a raw-hide belt tucked around their waists.

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  1888.  Detroit Free Press, Aug. It is not good form to use a TOOTHPICK in ARKANSAS now. A big revolver is the thing.

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