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

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Compare meaning

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

• kukri vs. machete

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kukri

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

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2023

They were strolling along quite unconcernedly, laughing and chatting together, with their hands in their pockets and quite unarmed, not even carrying their favourite kukri.

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

Rising, he drew his kukri and looked around him.

From The Elephant God by Gordon Casserly

At a word she lifts her trunk and tears it down, while the mahout hacks at bough and creeper with his kukri or heavy, curved knife.

From Life in an Indian Outpost by Gordon Casserly

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 Gordon Casserly

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