The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Scalpel \Scal"pel\ (sk[a^]l"p[e^]l), n. [L. scalpellum, dim. of scalprum a knife, akin to scalpere to cut, carve, scrape: cf. F. scalpel.] (Surg.) A small knife with a thin, keen blade, -- used by surgeons, and in dissecting. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
scalpel n 1: a thin straight surgical knife used in dissection and surgery