Small But Slicey. The word petty in petty knife literally comes from the French word petit, which means "small." While the Bighorn Chef&';s Knife excels at large slicing tasks, like breaking down large fruits and vegetables or big cuts of meat, the smaller, handy MKC Petty Knife is perfect for finer tasks in the kitchen. Petty knives are essentially utility knives used for work done off the cutting board. It&';s the knife you use when you&';re cutting a vegetable in your hand or breaking down a chicken. This knife really excels in tasks like boning and smaller work. A petty knife&';s narrow tip allows you to get into joints and work around corners. At the same time, it&';s a very versatile and a handy slicing knife & great for cutting up small fruit and vegetables.