bowie-knife

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

(Pron. [boo-ee]). A knife from ten to fifteen inches long and about two inches broad, so named after its inventor, Colonel Bowie. They are worn as weapons by persons in the South-western States only, and concealed in the back part of the coat. No gentleman at the North thinks it necessary to wear such a weapon.

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