Case Knife

In Southern and Appalachian speech, case knife means a simple table knife used for eating or spreading. The term is distinct from the Case® pocketknife brand and refers specifically to an everyday kitchen or butter knife.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #OldTimers #Southern

synonyms: table knife, butter knife, kitchen knife (informal), eating knife

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I have a really vague memory of my Dad sayin' 'get a case knife,' and my Momma sayin' to me 'the butter knife, not the sharp one.' I haven't heard it called that in years, it's more of an old timers thing nowadays.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Pronunciation

[KAYS nife]
/ˈkeɪs naɪf/

Meaning & Usage

- A table or butter knife (noun)

Mamie:

Y’all pass me a case knife - this cornbread needs a good smear of butter.

Leon:

Here you go. Sharp enough for nothin’ but spreadin’.

- Any simple kitchen knife used for eating (noun)

Ruby:

You want the big butcher knife?

Carl:

Naw, just a case knife’s fine.

variations: case-knife, caseknife

★ If you want to sound authentically Southern, use case knife only for table or butter knives - never for a folding knife. Folks might confuse it with the Case® brand if they're not from around here. ★

Origin and Etymology

The term case knife is documented in Southern and South Midland dialects from the nineteenth century onward, appearing in household inventories, oral histories, and regional literature. Its origin is unrelated to the Case® pocketknife company; instead, it likely descends from older English references to boxed or "cased" sets of table cutlery. Over time, Southern speakers generalized the term to mean any plain table or butter knife.

Usage Notes

Today, case knife is still heard among older generations in the South and Appalachia, though younger speakers often say "butter knife" or "table knife." Outside the region, the term is uncommon and sometimes mistaken for a brand reference.

Most common in Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Alabama.
Typically refers to non-serrated, everyday table knives.
Not used for pocketknives or hunting knives.
Rare outside the South and often unfamiliar to non-Southern speakers.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "case knife" related to Case® pocketknives?

No. The terms are unrelated despite the shared spelling.

Does it mean a specific type of table knife?

It generally refers to any simple table or butter knife used for eating or spreading.

Is it still used today?

Yes, especially in rural and traditional Southern households.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 2). Case Knife. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/case-knife
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Case Knife." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/case-knife.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Case Knife." HillbillySlang.com. December 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/case-knife.