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

Their national weapon is the kukri, a heavy curved knife, which they use for every possible purpose.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various

They carried, besides the musket, a short, heavy, curved knife called a kukri, a formidable weapon of which the sepoys were in deadly terror.

From A Narrative of the Siege of Delhi With an Account of the Mutiny at Ferozepore in 1857 by Griffiths, Charles John

Rising, he drew his kukri and looked around him.

From The Elephant God by Casserly, Gordon

They have made their British officers proud to be in command of a Gurkha regiment, and though rifle-armed, they are still wielders of their ancient weapon, the curved, willow-bladed, deadly kukri.

From George Alfred Henty The Story of an Active Life by Fenn, George Manville