kris

noun

ˈkrēs How to pronounce kris (audio)
: a Malay or Indonesian dagger with a ridged serpentine blade

Examples of kris in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During the sultan’s time, Pesarean was famous for the manufacture of Javanese daggers, known as kris. — Larry C. Price, National Geographic, 31 May 2016

Word History

Etymology

Malay kĕris

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kris was circa 1580

Rhymes for kris

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Browse Nearby Words

Krio
kris
kris dance
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Cite this Entry

“Kris.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kris. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on kris

Nglish: Translation of kris for Spanish Speakers

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