Stephen,
Yep. Do you want to start talking about whether a cutlass is a type of sword or knife, based on the fact that machetes are termed cutlasses
?
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Ah, but Louie,
Remember, we're all about words here, not getting shivved.
If I wanted to know what kind of dagger the Marine Raiders used during WWII, how would I go about searching for it?
This is the problem with the "everybody knows that a knife is X while a dagger is Y" discussion without a well-known definition. You can label a weapon as a knife or dagger (or whatever) based on what you think it is, but someone else who uses your term won't be able to figure out what you're talking about, without additional knowledge or asking more questions.
As an example, is a cutlass a sword, saber, or knife, given that a machete is termed a cutlass in part of its native range?
NOT that I'm saying we should have our own definitions on this site. Maybe we should start talking about these as "machete debates," or something similar.
Best,
F