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Dictionary:

knife

(nīf)

n., pl. knives (nīvz).

A cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade attached to a handle.
A cutting edge; a blade.

v., knifed, knif·ing, knifes.

v.tr.

To use a knife on, especially to stab; wound with a knife.
Informal. To betray or attempt to defeat by underhand means.

v.intr.

To cut or slash a way through something with or as if with a knife: The boat knifed through the waves.

idiom:

under the knife Informal.

Undergoing surgery.

[Middle English knif, from Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knīfr.]

knifer knif'er n.

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Food Lover's Companion: knife

A sharp-edged instrument used for cutting, peeling, slicing, spreading and so on. Most knife blades are made of steel, but a material called ceramic zirconia is now also being used. It reportedly won't rust, corrode or interact with food and is reputed to be second only to the diamond in hardness. Knife handles can be one of many materials including wood, plastic-impregnated wood, plastic, horn and metal. The blade should be forged carbon or high-carbon stainless steel that resists stains and rust and gives an excellent cutting edge. A good knife should be sturdy and well balanced. In the best knives, the end of the blade (called the tang) extends all the way to the end of the handle, where it's anchored by several rivets. Knives come in a variety of different sizes and shapes-each with its own specific use. A French knife (also called chef's knife), with its broad, tapered shape and fine edge is perfect for chopping vegetables, while the slicing knife cuts cleanly through cooked meat with its long, thin, narrow blade. Knives with serrated or scalloped edges make neat work of slicing softer foods such as bread, tomatoes and cake. The pointed, short-bladed paring knife is easy to handle and makes quick work of peeling, removing cores, etc. Knives used for table service are usually named after their use, such as dinner, luncheon, fish, butter and steak knives.

Dental Dictionary: knife

An instrument used for cutting that consists of a sharpedged blade with a handle.

Intelligence Encyclopedia: Knives

Knives come in all shapes and sizes, but for many of the purposes for which an undercover operative might need one, small is preferred; hence, the plethora of diminutive edge weapons available to persons working covert operations for a well-supplied organization such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Knives may be used for escape and related applications such as lock-picking, or—more infamously—to inflict personal harm. For the latter application, where assassination is the intent, concealment is key, and small daggers (a smaller instrument, made purely for stabbing) are favored. Other knives are made for close combat, in which case a longer blade offers an advantage.

Small knives for concealment. At the extremely small end are thumb knives, lapel daggers, coin knives, and the like. Developed by the British in World War II, the coin knife looks like an ordinary piece of pocket change, which makes it easy for a prisoner to keep it on his person, even after being searched. The blade itself is crescent-shaped, and attaches to the back by a small hasp so that it can rotate outward. It is too blunt to be used for inflicting bodily harm, but can be useful in escape. The inside of the blade is much sharper, after the manner of a cigar cutter, and was sometimes used to slice through the tire stems on German vehicles during the war. The British favored their one-pence piece, though any large coin would serve the purpose.

A similar concept is the ring knife, whose blade is much sharper than that of the coin knife, and not retractable. To conceal its purpose, users hide the curved blade on the inside of the hand until it is needed, at which point the ring can be turned around and used. Lapel daggers, also used widely by the Allies and Resistance in World War II, resemble thumb knives. (The latter are discussed elsewhere, in the context of assassination weapons.) Very sharp and short, the lapel dagger often had a hole at one end, through which passed a loop to attach it to the forefinger so as to ensure greater control when using it. Originally these weapons really were concealed in lapels, but after the Germans became aware of this practice, agents found other places to hide them, including in the lining of their clothes. Some hid them in their socks after the style of the kilted Scottish warriors, whose shen du had been the model for the lapel dagger.

Long knives for power. Knives and daggers have been concealed in belts (that is, on the inside of the belt and parallel to it), in belt buckles, and even in the plastic arms of eyeglasses. But when the user is going into a situation of open combat, and concealment is not necessary, a large knife is desirable. An example is the throwing knife, which looks like an elongated spear point (though with the flanges rounded off) along with about six inches of the "spear" itself as a grip. It is very thin, which makes it easy to throw, but in order to be effective, it must be thrown with both accuracy and power, and throwing must be followed by one or more thrusts at close quarters.

Most formidable-looking of all is the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, developed in World War II by two British officers, W. E. Fairbairn and E. A. Sykes. Based on knowledge gained from their experience in close combat while serving with the Shanghai police, the knife would quickly dispatch a victim by striking at his vital organs. Its blade was long, but the handle was nearly as lengthy, so as to ensure great control on the part of the user. First produced in 1941, it was readily adopted by the Allies. British commandoes carried it on raids into Norway, and the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which employed Fairbairn as an instructor, developed its own version. Revised over the years, the knife remained in production through the 1990s.

History

The Knife Grinder - Drawn by P. Weenix and engraving by W. French - Published for the Proprietors by AH Payne, Dresden & Leipzig - 1853 (From the Dr. Nuno Carvalho de Sousa Private Collections - Lisbon)

The earliest knives were shaped by percussion flaking from rock, particularly water-worn creek cobbles made out of volcanic rock. During the Paleolithic era Homo habilis likely made similar tools out of wood, bone, and similar highly perishable material that has not survived.^[2]^[3] As recent as five thousand years ago, as advances in metallurgy progressed, stone, wood, and bone blades were gradually succeeded by copper, bronze, iron, and eventually steel. Modern knives may be made from many different materials such as carbon fiber, ceramics, and titanium. Knives gained prominence during the Middle Ages as one of the three major items of cutlery in the western world, accompanying the fork and spoon, and in this way much of the world's population is exposed to knives on a daily basis. There is a very active community of modern custom knife makers and collectors. The American Bladesmith Society promotes forged blades; the Knifemakers Guild promotes all custom knives.

Materials and construction

Main article: Knife making

Today, knives come in many forms but can be categorized between two different types: fixed blade knives and folding, or pocket, knives. Although each has inherent advantages, the two have many similar characteristics.

Characteristic parts of the knife

Modern knives consist of a blade (1) and handle (2). The blade can be fine or serrated. The handle, used to grip and manipulate the blade safely, may include the tang, a portion of the blade that extends into the handle. The blade consists of the point (3), the end of the knife used for piercing, the edge (4), the cutting surface of the knife extending from the point to the heel, the grind (5), the cross-section shape of the blade, the spine, (6), the top, thicker portion of the blade, the fuller (7), the groove added to lighten the blade, and the bolster (8), the thick portion of the blade joining the blade and the handle. The guard (9) is a barrier between the blade and the handle which protects the hand from an opponent, or the blade of the knife itself. A choil, where the blade is unsharpened and possibly indented as it meets the handle, may be used to prevent scratches to the handle when sharpening or as a forward-finger grip. The end of the handle, or butt (10), may allow a lanyard (11), used to secure the knife to the wrist.^[4]^[5]

Blade

Main article: Blade

Knife blade mass production in Guangzhou, China.

Knife blades can be manufactured from a variety of materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Carbon steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, can be very sharp, hold its edge well, and remain easy to sharpen, but is vulnerable to rust and stains. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, possibly nickel, and molybdenum, with only a small amount of carbon. It is not able to take quite as sharp an edge as carbon steel, but is highly resistant to corrosion. High carbon stainless steel is stainless steel with a higher amount of carbon, intended to combine the best attributes of carbon steel and stainless steel. High carbon stainless steel blades do not discolor or stain, and maintain a sharp edge. Laminate blades use multiple metals to create a layered sandwich, combining the attributes of both. For example, a harder, more brittle steel may be sandwiched between an outer layer of softer, tougher, stainless steel to reduce vulnerability to corrosion. In this case, however, the part most affected by corrosion, the edge, is still vulnerable. Pattern-welding is similar to laminate construction. Layers of different steel types are welded together, but then the stock is manipulated to create patterns in the steel. Titanium is metal that is lighter, more wear resistant, and more flexible than steel. Although less hard and unable to take as sharp an edge, carbides in the titanium alloy allow them to be heat-treated to a sufficient hardness. Ceramic blades are incredibly hard, lightweight blades; so hard that they will maintain a sharp edge for months or years with no maintenance at all. They are immune to corrosion, but can only be sharpened on silicon carbide sandpaper and some grinding wheels. Plastic blades are not very sharp at all but are typically serrated, and are usually considered disposable.^[6]

Steel blades are commonly shaped by forging or stock removal. Forged blades are made by heating a single piece of steel, then shaping the metal while hot using a hammer or press. Stock removal blades are shaped by grinding and removing metal. With both methods, after shaping, the steel must be heat treated. This involves heating the steel above its critical point, then quenching the blade to harden it. After hardening, the blade is tempered to remove stresses and make the blade tougher. With common kitchen cutlery, forged blades are often seen in more expensive knives. Forged blades can often be distinguished from stock removal blades by the presence of an integral bolster.

The edge of the knife can be sharpened to a cutting surface in a number of different ways. Flat ground blades have a profile that tapers from the thick spine to the sharp edge in a straight or convex line. Seen in cross section, the blade would form a long, thin triangle, or where the taper does not extend to the back of the blade, a long thin rectangle with one peaked side. Hollow ground blades have concave, beveled edges that are ground starting midway down the blade, instead of at the spine. The resulting blade has a thinner edge, so it may have better cutting ability, but it is lighter and less durable than flat ground blades. Serrated blade knives have a wavy, scalloped or saw-like blade. Serrations make knives ideal for cutting things that are hard on the outside and soft on the inside that might otherwise be damaged by a knife with a plain edge blade. Serrated knives cut much better than plain edge blade knives when dull, so they may last longer without sharpening, and require a special tool to be sharpened.

Fixed blade features

A fixed blade knife does not fold or slide, and is typically stronger due to the tang, the extension of the blade into the handle, and lack of movable parts.^[6]

Folding blade features

A folding knife can pivot, allowing the blade to fold into the handle. Although not likely to have a guard or full tang, folding knives typically have a locking mechanism. One common mechanism, found traditionally on pocket knives, is the slip joint. Once opened, the blade does not lock, but is held in place by a spring device that allows the blade to fold if a certain amount of pressure is applied. Alternately, the lockback can be used. Like the slip-joint the lockback includes a pivoted latch connected to a spring, and can be disengaged only by pressing the latch down to release the blade.^[6]

Another feature associated with the folding knife is a small knob, disk or hole that allows the user to open the knife with one hand, leaving the other hand free.

Sliding blade features

A sliding knife is a knife which can be opened by sliding the knife blade out the front of the handle. One method of opening is where the blade exits out the front of the handle point-first and then is locked into place (an example of the this is the gravity knife). Another form is a O-T-F (out-the-front) switchblade, which only requires the push of a button or spring, the knife is "slid" out of the handle, and locked into place. To retract the blade back into the handle, a release lever or button, or linerlock is pressed.

Handle

Main article: Handle (grip)

The handles of knives can be made from a number of different materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Wood handles provide good grip, but are more difficult to care for. They do not resist water well, and will crack or warp with prolonged exposure to water. Plastic handles are more easily cared for than wooden handle, but can be slippery and become brittle over time. Lighter than other materials, this may result in a knife that is unbalanced or too light. Stainless steel handles are durable and sanitary, but can be slippery. To counter this, many premium knife makers make handles with ridges, bumps, or indentations to provide extra grip.

Types of knives

For more details on the various types of knives, see Blade#Patterns of knife blades.

Knives as weapons

As a weapon, the knife is universally adopted as an essential tool. For example:

Knife bayonet: A knife-shaped close-quarter fighting weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, used as a last-resort weapon or tool
Combat knife: Any knife intended to be used mainly in close-quarter fighting
Trench knife: Purpose-made or improvised knives, intended for close-quarter fighting, particularly in trench warfare
Shiv: A crudely made homemade knife out of everyday materials, especially prevalent in prisons among inmates. An alternate name in some prisons is Shank.

Knives as utensils

Table knives

A primary aspect of the knife as a tool includes dining, used either in food preparation or as cutlery. Examples of this include:

Bread knife: A knife with a serrated blade for cutting bread
Boning knife: A knife used for removing the bones of poultry, meat, and fish
Carving knife: A knife for carving large cooked meats such as poultry, roasts, hams
Chef's knife: Also known as a French knife, a cutting tool used in preparing food
Electric knife: An electrical device consisting of two serrated blades that are clipped together, providing a sawing action when powered on
Kitchen knife: Any knife, including the chef's knife, that is intended to be used in food preparation
Table knife: A piece of cutlery, either a butter knife, steak knife, or both, that is part of a table setting, accompanying the fork and spoon

Knives as tools

As a utility tool the knife can take many forms, including:^[6]

Bowie knife: Commonly, any large sheath knife, or a specific style of knife designed by Colonel Jim Bowie
Butterfly knife: A folding knife also known as a balisong, with two handles counter-rotating around the tang such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within the handles

Diver's knife

Diver's knife: A knife adapted for use in diving and watersports and a necessary part of standard diving dress
Electrician's knife: An insulated knife used to cut electrical wire
Hunting knife: A knife used to dress large game
Pocket knife: Also known as a multi-tool or jackknife, a knife which may contain several blades, as well as other tools
Palette knife: A knife, or frosting spatula, lacking a cutting edge, used by artists for tasks such as mixing and applying paint, and in cooking for spreading icing
Scalpel: A medical knife, used to perform surgery
Straight razor: A reusable knife blade used for shaving hair
Survival knife: A sturdy knife, sometimes with a hollow handle filled with survival equipment
Switchblade: A knife with a folding blade that springs out of the grip when a button or lever on the grip is pressed
Utility knife: A knife used for cutting sheet materials, including cardboard boxes
Wood carving knife: Knifes used for wood carving, often with short and thin blades for better control

Knives as a tradition

Kukri: A Nepalese knife used as both tool and weapon
Laguiole knife: A traditional French pocket-knife, originally produced in the town of Laguiole in the Aveyron region of southern France in the early 19th century
Lajinaa: A small spear, sometimes used in close range battles, used mostly by Spaniard pirates who raided trade ships in the gulf coast
Mora knife: Similar in design to Finnish puukkos, a range of belt-knives manufactured by the cutleries of the town of Mora in Dalarna, Sweden
Opinel knife: A simple, inexpensive, wooden pocket-knife, manufactured since the 1890s in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Savoie region of France
Puukko: A traditional Finnish or Scandinavian style woodcraft belt-knife used as a tool rather than a weapon
Sabatier: A cooking knife manufactured in Thiers, France from well established manufacturers from the early 19th century
Seax: A Germanic single-edged knife, used primarily as a tool, but may also have been a weapon
Swiss Knife: A multiple-purpose pocket Swiss tool (see Pocket Knife above), usually containing several blades of different lengths, a corkscrew, a can-opener, a toothpick, tongs and even a little wood-saw and scissors sometimes. It was created in 1891 for the Swiss military.
Ulu: An Inuit woman's all-purpose knife
Sgian Dubh: A small dagger traditionally worn with highland dress (kilt)

Rituals and superstitions

See also: Ritual and Superstition

The knife plays a significant role in some cultures through ritual and superstition. As the knife was an essential tool for survival since early man^[2], it can be found from the cradle—a knife placed under the bed while giving birth is said to ease the pain, or stuck into the headboard of a cradle to protect the baby^[7]^[8]—to grave—so the dead would not be defenseless in the next world.^[9]^[10]^[11] As such, the knife plays an important role in some initiation rites, and many cultures perform rituals with a variety of knives, including the ceremonial sacrifices of animals.^[12] Samurai warriors, as part of bushido, could perform ritual suicide, or seppuku, with a tantō, a common Japanese knife.^[13] An athame, a ceremonial black-handled knife, is used in Wicca and other forms of modern witchcraft.^[14]^[15]

In Greece a black-handled knife placed under the pillow is used to keep away nightmares.^[16] As early as 1646 reference is made to a superstition of laying a knife across another piece of cutlery.^[17] A common belief is that if a knife is given as a gift, the relationship of the giver and recipient will be severed. Something such as a small coin is exchanged for the gift, rendering "payment."^[8]

Legislation

Main article: Knife legislation

Knives are typically restricted by law, although restrictions vary greatly by country or state and type of knife. For example, some laws restrict carrying an unconcealed knife in public while other laws can restrict even private ownership of certain knives, such as switchblades.

References

^ No. 1 The Knife - Forbes.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c Early Human Evolution: Early Human Culture. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
^ World's Oldest Stone Tools. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
^ Identify Basic Knife Parts. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
^ Knife Anatomy, Parts, Names. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Greatest Tool
1. 10: The Knife - lifehack.org. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.

^ Bad Luck and Superstition 5. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ ^a ^b HouseholdFolklore. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ "The Knife Lore of the Anglo-Saxons" - Knife Articles : Custom Knives - Knife. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
^ The Heroic Age: The Anglo-British Cemetery at Bamburgh. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
^ Bronze age grave goods from Bedd Branwen burial site, Anglesey :: Gathering the Jewels. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
^ Ritual knife. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ Howstuffworks "How Samurai Work". Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ Hellenic Magical Ritual. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian. (Sloane 3847). Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ The Magic of the Horseshoe: The Magic Of The Horse-shoe: VI. Iron As A Protective Charm. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
^ KNIFE laid across - A Dictionary of Superstitions - HighBeam Research. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.

External links

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Knife

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Misspellings: knife

Common misspelling(s) of knife

knive

Translations: Translations for: Knife

Dansk (Danish)
n. - kniv
v. tr. - stikke, såre med en kniv, stikke ned, skære, falde i ryggen, snigløbe
v. intr. - stikke, skære

idioms:

get one's knife into være ude efter en, være på nakken af en, vil en til livs
go under the knife komme på operationsbordet
knife edge knivsæg, knivskarp kant, prismekant
like a (hot) knife through butter så let som ingenting
the knives are out der er nogen der er ude med riven

Nederlands (Dutch)
mes, (door)steken, smeren (met mes), doorklieven, op achterbakse wijze verslaan

Français (French)
n. - couteau, canif, (fig) couteau (dans la plaie), (fig) dent (contre qn), (Méd) sur le billard, coup de couteau
v. tr. - donner un coup de couteau, couper avec un couteau, essayer de vaincre/d'ébranler (qn) sournoisement/secrètement
v. intr. - fendre qch avec un couteau

idioms:

get one's knife into avoir une dent contre
go under the knife (Méd) passer sur le billard
knife edge lame du couteau, fil d'un couteau, (Tech) couteau, tenir à un fil
like a knife through butter (rentrer dans qch) comme dans du beurre
the knives are out for someone à couteaux tirés, c'est la guerre (pour qn)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Messer
v. - mit dem Messer stechen, heimtückisch zu Fall bringen

idioms:

get one's knife into verfolgen, gehässig behandeln
go under the knife sich einer Operation unterziehen
knife edge Schneide
like a knife through butter mühelos
the knives are out for someone das Messer wird gewetzt

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μαχαίρι, κοπίδι, λάμα
v. - μαχαιρώνω

idioms:

get one's knife into έχω άχτι, δεν αφήνω σε χλωρό κλαρί
go under the knife πάω στο χειρουργείο/για μαχαίρι
knife edge κόψη μαχαιριού, λάμα
like a (hot) knife through butter πολύ εύκολα, όπως κόβει το ζεστό μαχαίρι το βούτυρο
the knives are out βγήκαν τα μαχαίρια

Italiano (Italian)
coltello

idioms:

get one's knife into accanirsi contro
go under the knife essere operato
knife edge filo del rasoio
like a (hot) knife through butter come un coltello nel burro
that one could cut with a knife ovvio, da potersi tagliare con un coltello
the knives are out ai ferri corti
turn/twist the knife in a wound girare il coltello nella piaga

Português (Portuguese)
n. - faca (f)
v. - apunhalar

idioms:

get one's knife into odiar alguém
go under the knife entrar na faca (gír.), ser operado
knife edge situação (f) imprevisível, ansiedade (f), algo estreito ou afiado
like a (hot) knife through butter muito fácil, moleza
that one could cut with a knife usado para dizer que as pessoas estavam nervosas umas com as outras
the knives are out as pessoas estão sendo muito pouco amigáveis entre si
turn/twist the knife in a wound por o dedo na ferida (fig.)

Русский (Russian)
нож, кинжал

idioms:

get one's knife into нападать на кого-либо
go under the knife лечь на операцию
knife edge острие ножа
like a (hot) knife through butter проще простого
that one could cut with a knife нечто осязаемое, ощутимое
the knives are out ружья наизготовку
turn/twist the knife in a wound сыпать соль на раны

Español (Spanish)
n. - cuchillo, navaja, cuchilla, bisturí
v. tr. - cortar o herir con cuchillo, acuchillar, podar
v. intr. - perjudicar secretamente, herir por la espalda

idioms:

get one's knife into tener rabia o inquina a alguien, ensañarse con alguien, atacar a alguien
go under the knife someterse a una operación quirúrgica, dar el tijeretazo a algo
knife edge filo, borde del cuchillo, fiel de soporte, eje de apoyo
like a knife through butter sin esfuerzo, sin dificultad
the knives are out for someone se la tienen jurada, rodarán cabezas

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kniv
v. - knivhugga, knivskära, sticka ned, baktala

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
刀, 小刀, 手术刀, 菜刀, 匕首, 切, 伤害, 戮, 刺, 劈开, 穿过

idioms:

get one's knife into 伤害某人
go under the knife 接受手术
knife edge 刀口, 刃状物
like a (hot) knife through butter 轻而易举地
the knives are out 剑拔弩张

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 刀, 小刀, 手術刀, 菜刀, 匕首
v. tr. - 切, 傷害, 戮, 刺
v. intr. - 劈開, 穿過

idioms:

get one's knife into 傷害某人
go under the knife 接受手術
knife edge 刀口, 刃狀物
like a (hot) knife through butter 輕而易舉地
the knives are out 劍拔弩張

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 주머니 칼, 식칼 , 단도
v. tr. - ~을 칼로 자르다, 음흉한 배반을 기도하다
v. intr. - 뚫고 나아가다, 스쳐 가다

idioms:

get one's knife into 원한을 품다, 비평하다
go under the knife 수술을 받다
like a (hot) knife through butter 재빨리, 아주 손쉽게
the knives are out ~에게 좋지 않은 일이 생기기를 바라다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ナイフ, 包丁, メス
v. - ナイフで刺す

idioms:

get one's knife into 恨みを示す, 激しく攻撃する
knife edge ナイフエッジ, 支え刃
like a (hot) knife through butter いとも簡単に
the knives are out 人々が険悪な状態
turn/twist the knife in a wound 傷口に塩をぬる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) سكينه (فعل) يحاول هزيمه الخصم بالخداع, يقطع, يطعن بمديه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סכין‬
v. tr. - ‮דקר בסכין, התגבר על (אדם) בכלים שנמצאו לו‬
v. intr. - ‮דקר בסכין, פילס דרכו בסכין‬

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		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Food Lover's Companion. Food Lover's Companion. Copyright © 2001 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Intelligence Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security. Copyright © 2004 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more
		Word Tutor. Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved. eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; free trial. Read more
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knife

knife

History

Materials and construction

Blade

Fixed blade features

Folding blade features

Sliding blade features

Handle

Types of knives

Knives as weapons

Knives as utensils

Knives as tools

Knives as a tradition

Rituals and superstitions

Legislation

Further reading

References

See also

External links