Kris wedge or sliver. "Kris" is the more frequently used spelling in the West, but "keris" is more popular in the dagger's native lands, as exemplified by the late Bambang Harsrinuksmo's popular book entitled "Ensiklopedi Keris" (Kris Encyclopedia). Two notable exceptions are the Philippines where it is usually called "kalis" or "kris" (although the Filipino "kalis" is a sword, rather than a dagger), and Thailand where it is always spelled kris and pronounced either as "kris" or "krit". In the Yala dialect the word is "kareh". Other spellings used by European colonists include "cryse", "crise", "criss", "kriss" and "creese." Kris history
Kris Until the 1990s, kris-making activities in Java had almost come to a standstill due to economic difficulties and changing socio-cultural values. However, thanks to several concerned kris experts, the tradition is being revived and kris craftsmanship has increased again. Over the past three decades, kris have lost their prominent social and spiritual meaning in society. Although active and honoured smiths who produce high quality kris in the traditional way can still be found in some places such as Madura, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Makassar and Palembang, their number is dramatically decreasing, and it is more difficult for them to find successors to