Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Knife

Knife

(nīf)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Knives
(nīvz)
.
[OE.
knif
, AS.
cnīf
; akin to D.
knijf
, Icel.
knīfr
, 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
, pocket
knife
, pen
knife
, chopping
knife
, etc.
.
2.
A sword or dagger.
The coward conquest of a wretch’s
knife
.
Shakespeare
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.

Knife

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Knifed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Knifing
.]
1.
(Hort.)
To prune with the knife.
2.
To cut or stab with a knife.
[Low]

Webster 1828 Edition


Knife

KNIFE

,
Noun.
nife; plu. knives; nives.
1.
A cutting instrument with a sharp edge. Knives are of various shapes and sizes, adapted to their respective uses; as table knives; carving knives or carvers; penknives, &c.
2.
A sword or dagger.