case knife
A plain table knife or butter knife, not a pocketknife.
Updated September 21, 2026
case knife pronunciation
/KAYSS nyfe/
Meaning
In Southern and Appalachian kitchens, a case knife is the everyday knife beside your plate. You spread butter with it, cut soft food, or dig something out of the sink drain. It is not the folding knife in your pocket. That brand-name Case knife is a different animal, even if the words sound alike.
How folks use it
- “Hand me a case knife so I can butter this biscuit.”
- “Don't dig in the jar with that spoon. Get a clean case knife.”
Origin and etymology
Older English talked about knives sold in a case as part of a traveler's or diner's cutlery set. Southern speech kept case knife for the ordinary table knife. The W.R. Case pocketknife company is a later coincidence of names, not the source of the tableware sense.
Frequently asked questions
Is a case knife a Case brand pocketknife?
No. Lowercase case knife means a table or butter knife. A Case knife (brand) is the folding pocketknife folks carry. Context and capitalization tell them apart.