cultellus

Cultellus is a Latin noun meaning “little knife.” It is a diminutive form of culter, the general word for a blade or knife. The term thus denotes a small knife or cutting tool and is used in classical Latin to describe a compact blade used for everyday tasks, such as trimming, carving, or other utilitarian purposes. The diminutive form distinguishes cultellus from larger knives and from weapons of greater size.

In usage, cultellus refers to a functional blade rather than a primary weapon. It could be employed for kitchen tasks, personal utility, or delicate cutting work. In Latin literary and documentary sources, the word appears as a straightforward designation for a small knife, rather than as a specialized fighting weapon, though the line between tool and secondary blade could blur in some contexts.

In modern scholarship, cultellus is often encountered in discussions of Roman material culture and lexicography. The term helps distinguish small, easily portable blades from larger swords or daggers, reflecting the practical role of such knives in daily life and in military provisioning. When used in archaeological reports, it may denote a small blade recovered from domestic or military contexts, without implying a specific standardized form.

See also culter; knife; dagger.