a. A knife carried in a case or sheath; a hunter’s knife. b. ‘A large kitchen or table knife’ (Craig).
1704. Addison, Italy, Wks. 1721, II. 34. The King always acts with a great case-knife stuck in his girdle.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1727), 106. He pulled out a case-knife … and threatened to cut his own throat.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metals, II. 5. The description of knife … used for cutting food, or a case-knife, as it was long afterwards called, from being fitted with a sheath.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 126. A dagger or case-knife is … now more commonly worn.
