In the first paragraph of Chapter 4 of "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle," a dirk is described as a wicked-looking dagger. The evidence from the text to support this comes from the description of a sailor who approaches Charlotte: "He carried a broad, spiteful looking dirk—an ugly weapon with a blade some eight inches long and at least two inches wide." This description indicates that a dirk is a menacing and intimidating dagger, emphasizing its wickedness and implying it has the potential to cause harm.
