knife money

noun

Large knife-shaped money made from cast bronze, used in China between 600 and 200 B.C. during the Zhou dynasty.

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Meanings

nounknife money (uncountable)
  1. historicaluncountablebankingLarge knife-shaped money made from cast bronze, used in China between 600 and 200 B.C. during the Zhou dynasty.

Origin

From knife + money, from its knifelike shape.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

knife money. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/knife%20money

MLA

“knife money.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/knife%20money. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “knife money,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/knife%20money.

Source: knife money on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.