Knife

nīf, n. an instrument for cutting: a sword or dagger:— pl. Knives (nīvz).— v.t. to stab with a knife: ( Amer. ) to try to destroy a political candidate's chances by a treacherous attack.— ns. Knife′-and-fork′ , a trencherman; Knife′-board , a board on which knives are cleaned: ( coll. ) the seat running along the top of an omnibus; Knife′-boy , a boy employed in cleaning knives; Knife′-edge ( mech. ), a sharp piece of steel like a knife's edge serving as the axis of a balance, .; Knife′-grind′er , one who grinds or sharpens knives; Knife′-mon′ey , a knife-shaped bronze currency formerly used in China; Knife′-rest , a gla or metal utensil on which to rest a carving-knife or fork; Knife′-tray , a tray for holding knives.— War to the knife , mortal combat. [A.S. cníf : Ger. kneif , knife, kneifen , to nip.]