An Indonesian or Malay dagger with a wavy, or rigid serpentine blade.
"The collector admired the intricate carvings on the traditional kris, noting how its wavy blade shimmered in the sunlight."
In plain English: A kris is an old-fashioned dagger from Indonesia that has a wavy, zigzag blade made of folded metal layers.
"The chef used his sharp kris to slice through the tough coconut meat."
Usage: A kris refers to the traditional Southeast Asian ceremonial dagger known for its distinctive wavy or straight blade. Use this term when discussing specific cultural artifacts from Indonesia and Malaysia rather than generic daggers.
To stab with a kris.
"The warrior thrust his traditional dagger forward to deliver a fatal blow, effectively killing the enemy by stabbing him with a kris."
A diminutive of the female given names Kristina, Christina, Kristin, Kristine and related given names.
"Her friends affectionately called her Kris after she shortened her name from Kristina."
The word kris comes from the Malay language and originally referred to a traditional dagger known there as a keris. It entered English around 1580, serving as a doublet for the term kalis.