trench knife

American  

noun

1. a short knife for stabbing, sometimes equipped with brass knuckles as a guard, used in modern warfare in hand-to-hand combat.

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trench knife British  

noun

1. a double-edged steel knife, often with a guard in the form of a knuckle-duster, designed for close combat

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Etymology

Origin of trench knife

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Their faces were blackened and they carried trench knives and hand grenades.

From Project Gutenberg

Each carried a trench knife and a revolver, the latter for use as a last resource only.

From Project Gutenberg

They had gathered round a group of ruined farm buildings some seven hundred yards from the American trenches, armed with grenades, revolvers, trench knives, and rifles.

From Project Gutenberg

It took a little time to bind and gag eight men when the bonds and gags had to be ripped from their clothing with trench knives.

From Project Gutenberg

Somebody could lean over the top and snake off your head with a trench knife before you could get your feet loose.

From Project Gutenberg