歴史小説では、しばしば凶刃が登場する。
In historical novels, an assassin's blade often appears.
短刀 is a general short sword or dagger, without the murderous connotation of 凶刃.
Standard modern spelling.
Variant using the older 兇 character; less common in modern writing.
Compound of 凶 (bad, evil) and 刃 (blade). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with a blade used for murder.