knife \knife\ nimacf, n.; pl. knives nimacvz. oe.
   knif, as. cnimacf; akin to d. knijf, icel. knimacfr, 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..
      1913 webster

   2. a sword or dagger.
      1913 webster

            the coward conquest of a wretch's knife. --shak.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
knives knife grass scleria latifolia war to the knife