fish-knife
Definition
Noun: A fish-knife is a type of knife specifically designed for cutting and serving fish at the dining table. It is typically flat, broad, and blunt, with a slightly curved blade, intended to separate fish flesh from bones without damaging the delicate meat.
Usage Examples
- (A knife for cutting fish at the table.)
- (A specialized utensil for fish service.)
Advanced Usage
"to wield a fish-knife": to use the knife skillfully or in a particular manner.
- The hostess wielded the fish-knife with precision, deboning the trout gracefully. (Used the knife skillfully for fish preparation.)
"a fish-knife and fork set": a matching pair of utensils, including the knife and a special fork with a wide, flat prong, used together for eating fish.
- The antique fish-knife and fork set was a family heirloom. (A matched set of fish-serving utensils.)
Variants and Related Words
Fish (n): a cold-blooded aquatic animal, often used as food.
- We caught fresh fish for dinner. (The animal itself.)
Knife (n): a cutting tool with a blade.
- He sharpened the kitchen knife. (A general cutting instrument.)
Fish-slice (n): a similar utensil used for serving fish, often larger and with a slotted blade.
- The fish-slice is ideal for lifting whole fish from a platter. (A serving tool for fish.)
Synonyms
- Fish server: a utensil used for serving fish, often synonymous with a fish-knife or fish-slice.
- Fish cutter: a knife designed for cutting fish, though less common in tableware contexts.
Related Idioms
- "To make a fish-knife of something": (rare, figurative) to misuse a tool for an inappropriate purpose.
- Using a butter knife as a fish-knife is a mistake; it will tear the flesh. (Using a wrong tool for a delicate task.)