Quick links
roach (knife)
[< roach-bellied < roach a variety of carp having a curved back]
Fur Trade, Hist.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
n.
a kind of knife the blade of which folded into a curved handle.
See: Rochbury (knife)
Although the earliest available references appear as Rochberry, Rochbary, and Rochbury knife, the term Roach-belly'd knives also appears very early. Only roach knife appears after the 17th century. Since Rochbury does not appear to have been a place name, the given etymology seems most likely.
Quotations
1683
[Ordered that Mr. Sam Banner provide . . . 1000 Rothbury large Ditto. . . . [Fn] (1946) In A.6/3, fo.42d., there is a reference to these knives as "Roach belly'd knives," a name presumably descriptive of their shape.]
1728
Likewise send us no small long knives nor small roach knives . . . they being so weak that the natives does not care for trading them. . . .
1825
. . . the 1825 invoice of goods sent to York Factory [lists] scalping and roach knives. . . .
1829
8 1/2 doz. Roach Knives.