kukri

American  

[kook-ree] / ˈkʊk ri /

noun

1. a large knife having a heavy curved blade that is sharp on the concave side, used by the Napalese Gurkhas for hunting and combat.

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kukri British  

/ ˈkʊkrɪ /

noun

1. a knife with a curved blade that broadens towards the point, esp as used by Gurkhas

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Etymology

Origin of kukri

First recorded in 1805–15, kukri is from the Hindi word kukṛī

Compare meaning

How does kukri compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• kukri vs. machete

Example Sentences

A kukri is a short sword with an angled blade that originated in South Asia.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2023

The second elephant's mahout, a grey-bearded Mahommedan, slipped instantly to the earth and, drawing his kukri, struggled through the arresting creepers and undergrowth to where the stag lay feebly moving its limbs.

From The Jungle Girl by Casserly, Gordon

And now the veiled man drew himself rigidly upright again and stepped backward until the fallen kukri lay at his feet.

From The Golden Scorpion by Rohmer, Sax

All the men and some of the women are armed with the kukri, a heavy-bladed weapon or knife of singular shape. 

From A Journey to Katmandu (the Capital of Napaul), with The Camp of Jung Bahadoor; including A Sketch of the Nepaulese Ambassador at Home by Oliphant, Laurence

Rising, he drew his kukri and looked around him.

From The Elephant God by Casserly, Gordon