sheath knife

a knife carried in a sheath.

Origin of sheath knife

First recorded in 1830–40

But when he saw Carson, with shaking fingers, fumble for his sheath-knife, he decided the end had come.

Smoke Bellew |Jack London
I had found a sheath-knife belonging to him, but I afterwards gave it away to a friendly chief, who was immensely proud of it.

The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont |Louis de Rougemont
Suddenly, the remembrance of my sheath-knife flashed across my brain.

For Treasure Bound |Harry Collingwood
The second mate, with his empty revolver, and Bert Rhine with his sheath-knife, fled past me side by side.

The Mutiny of the Elsinore |Jack London

Daw slashed the wheel-dog's traces with his sheath-knife, and the animal whipped over the ice-edge and was gone.

The Turtles of Tasman |Jack London

sheath knife

a knife carried in or protected by a sheath