war to the knife

1 definition found

war to the knife - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Knife \Knife\ (n[imac]f), n.; pl. Knives (n[imac]vz). [OE.
     knif, AS. cn[imac]f; akin to D. knijf, Icel. kn[imac]fr, Sw.
     knif, Dan. kniv.]
     1. An instrument consisting of a thin blade, usually of steel
        and having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle,
        but of many different forms and names for different uses;
        as, table knife, drawing knife, putty knife, pallet knife,
        pocketknife, penknife, chopping knife, etc..
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A sword or dagger.
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              The coward conquest of a wretch's knife. --Shak.
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     Knife grass (Bot.) a tropical American sedge (Scleria  latifolia
        ), having leaves with a very sharp and hard
        edge, like a knife.
  
     War to the knife, mortal combat; a conflict carried to the
        last extremity.
        [1913 Webster]