Scissors are hand-operated shearing tools. A pair of scissors consists of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles opposite to the pivot are closed.

The earliest use of scissors reported was in Mesopotamia between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago. About 100 A.D., the Romans are credited with inventing pivoted style scissors made of iron or bronze. The design of these cutting tools included blades that were fixed on a pivot point located between the handles and blade tips. In 1761, Robert Hinchliffe in Sheffield, England produced the first cast steel scissors similar to styles that are used today.

Contemporary scissors are produced in many different sizes, from pocket-size snipping models to large industrial sheers.

Did you know that there are a lot of different scissors? There are regular cutting scissors, scissors as a sewing tool, and scissors for crafting.