Knife, n.

(nĭf), n.; pl. KNĪVES (nīvz). [A-S. cnif, Icel. knifr, hnifr, Sw. knif, Dan. kniv, L. Ger. knif, H. Ger. kneif, D. knivf; whence Fr. canif, a pen-knife.]

1. An instrument usually consisting of a thin blade of steel, having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle, but of many different forms and names for different uses in household economy and the various trades, &c.; as, table-knife, drawing-knife, putty-knife, pallet-knife, pocket-knife, pen-knife, chopping-knife, and others.
2. A sword or dagger.

The coward conquest of a wretch’s knife. Shak.