carving knife

American  

noun

1. a large, sharp knife for carving or slicing meat.

---

carving knife British  

noun

1. a long-bladed knife for carving cooked meat for serving

---

Etymology

Origin of carving knife

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Nearby, another uses a carving knife to cut slices from a large leg of jamón ibérico, or Iberian ham, placing each one on a plate, to be served as an appetiser.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025

Make sure the carving knife is sharp and never slice toward yourself, always away.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2022

A few steps away, a kosher carving knife, a pushcart, a pickle barrel and a battered traveling valise used by immigrants from Lithuania are lined up against a wall.

From New York Times • Jul. 18, 2022

When Gov. Lewis Barrows of Maine was handed a carving knife, he responded, “No, thanks. I’ve brought a can of sardines with me.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2021

While Mother carved and served the plates—Dad sometimes carved wood for a hobby, but he never touched a carving knife at the table—Dad would shout out problems in mental arithmetic for us.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey