A case knife is a name used throughout the American South to refer to a table knife, i.e. a knife intended for use at the dining table. The origin of this usage comes from a time when inns did not customarily provide eating utensils with meals. The table fork was relatively new, and was often sold in combination with a knife and, sometimes, a spoon. Thus the term refers to a knife that was sold in a case, as part of a set of utensils intended for use in dining. Case knife is also used to refer to a pocketknife made by W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co..
Famous quotes containing the words case and/or knife:
“In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)
“The plastic surgeon’s knife slashes at time, which may seem to retreat, but then keeps on coming.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)