kris
15
9.9
A dagger with a wavy blade that people in Southeast Asia use for fighting or ceremonies
- noun
- /krɪs/
:
kris
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small traditional knife from Malaysia or Indonesia with a wavy blade
emphasizes its use as a weapon or ceremonial object in Southeast Asia
1
9.9
A short knife from Malaysia with a wavy blade that people use as a weapon or in ceremonies
has identical meaning but uses a different traditional name
Surface Forms
Etymology
Kris comes from the Malay and Indonesian word keris, the name for a traditional dagger with a 'wavy blade'. Think of a kris as a special kind of 'dagger' that is often both a weapon and a sacred object used in ceremonies, which is why the word today refers to this particular decorated knife.