from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Knife \Knife\ (n[imac]f), n.; pl. {Knives} (n[imac]vz). [OE.
knif, AS. cn[imac]f; akin to D. knijf, Icel. kn[imac]fr, Sw.
knif, Dan. kniv.]
1. An instrument consisting of a thin blade, usually of steel
and having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle,
but of many different forms and names for different uses;
as, table knife, drawing knife, putty knife, pallet knife,
pocketknife, penknife, chopping knife, etc..
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2. A sword or dagger.
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The coward conquest of a wretch's knife. --Shak.
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{Knife grass} (Bot.) a tropical American sedge ({Scleria
latifolia}), having leaves with a very sharp and hard
edge, like a knife.
{War to the knife}, mortal combat; a conflict carried to the
last extremity.
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