Wiktionary
n. A table knife with a sharp, narrow, and often serrated blade designed for cutting tougher foods such as cooked meats.
WordNet
n. a sharp table knife used in eating steak
Wikipedia
A steak knife is a sharp table knife used for cutting steak. It may also refer to:
- Stakeknife, a spy
- Steakknife, a German punk rock band
A steak knife is a sharp table knife, used for cutting steak. These often feature serrated blades and wooden handles, and are the only sharp knife commonly found at the modern table.
Specialized steak knives emerged in America following World War II. Prior to World War I, all table knives were sharp, but required frequent upkeep – sharpening and polishing. With the decline in domestic workers (household servants), this upkeep became less feasible. Stainless steel became widespread following WWI, which did not require polishing, but did require sharpening due to manufacturing limits. Following WWII, serrated stainless steel steak knives were introduced which required neither polishing nor frequent sharpening, and proved an instant hit. In the 1950s heat treatment of stainless steel was introduced, allowing knives to remain sufficiently sharp without needing serrations, but by this point serrated steak knives had become well-established and continued to be used.
Usage examples of "steak knife".
Vuylsteke knew what it was, a six-inch steak knife from the kitchen.
He payed this final fuse over to the battery and peeled the insulation from the end with the steak knife.
She reached into her beltpouch for her stunner, though she knew a steak knife would have done more good.
He went into the kitchen and got a steak knife from the stainless steel set hanging on a wall.
Then he drove a steak knife through the center of each slat, and with rope mounted one in the frame of each of the small apartment's four windows.
Rocco wipes his face with his greasy napkin, his attention wandering to the steak knife on his plate.
Later, while making coffee, she had managed to slide a stout steak knife into her purse, though it was no part of her plan to have to use it.
Stepan sat slumped at the dining table, his right hand, which held the letter of protection, nailed down with a steak knife.
Then quite suddenly she relaxed, as though she'd finally decided Sven didn't plan to pick up his steak knife and do her in between the salad and the main course.