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

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

There is nothing particular about the knife—an ordinary Bhojâl kukri.

From Carlyon Sahib by Murray, Gilbert

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

Through this maddening obstacle Badshah forced his way; while Dermot hacked at the impeding lianas with a sharp kukri, the heavy-bladed Gurkha knife.

From The Elephant God by Casserly, Gordon

Dermot selected the biggest stem and hacked it down with his kukri.

From The Elephant God by Casserly, Gordon