couteau

American  

[koo-toh] / kuˈtoʊ /

noun

plural

couteaux

1. a knife, especially a large double-edged one formerly carried as a weapon.

---

couteau British  

/ kuːˈtəʊ /

noun

1. a large two-edged knife used formerly as a weapon

---

Etymology

Origin of couteau

1670–80; < French; Old French coutel < Latin cultellus; cultellus

Example Sentences

A curiously-formed ridge—a couteau des prairies, on a small scale—traversed the plain from east to west.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine No. XVI.?September, 1851?Vol. III. by Various

For the matter of that, Louis, we could cut them with your couteau de chaise.

From Lost in the Backwoods by Traill, Catharine Parr Strickland

As already said, the topography of the place is peculiar; the lone cottonwood standing on the crest of a couteau de prairie, whose sides slope east and west.

From The Death Shot A Story Retold by Reid, Mayne

"And is he as ready with the gun as with the couteau?" said Sir William.

From The Bride of Lammermoor by Scott, Walter, Sir

Among these was a couteau de chasse, with a double-barrelled pistol in a handle of jade. 

From Pickle the Spy; Or, the Incognito of Prince Charles by Lang, Andrew