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A Japanese knife or small sword, they are forged generally in hira-zukuri, meaning that they have no ridge-line, unlike the shinogi-zukuri shape of a katana. They were generally very thin and therefore would cut soft targets extremely well.
It is also the shortest of three similar swords, the wakizashi and the katana
my tanto was made to stab you

tanto by wakizashimaster August 27, 2006
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A tanto is very similar to a katana. It is shorter, about 6"-12" (15-30 cm) and very thin. It was designed for stabbing, but could be used to slash.
When Musashi lost his katana in battle, he pulled out his tanto.
tanto by Slavakion June 24, 2004
Related Words
Word when a Mexican teenager looks like hes 30.
Look at that tanto his mustache is huge.

Chris is a tanto.

"Hola tanto"

"Your son is a tanto, thats rad."
Tanto by Charlie (tanto) June 3, 2007
When you team up with a bro to double team a broad and the balls rub together creating friction and sparking a small fire, needing only marshmallows and smores
Hey did you hear jimmy and steve tanto that bitch last night? they burnt down the whole apartment complex
tanto by SmithJonesbatman101 August 29, 2010
Tanto is what you are
Tanto by Tanto535353535 February 16, 2023
Urban/Gangsta nickname for someone from the streets
"Hey Tanto! Wuts good wit chu?
Tanto by Anthony #19 July 20, 2008
A person of Indian descent . Not Native American, The India Subcontinent
Originates from the epic Film "Who's Harry Crumb?" starring the legendary John Franklin Candy.
He Tanto! That's a nice elephant you got there.
tanto by chi chi killer December 28, 2005