SWORD
ADJECTIVES
► BROADLING of a sword: wielded so as to deliver a blow with the flat of the blade rather than with the edge → 1200 obs.
► BROWN of a sword: glistening, burnished → 1380 obs.
► BUTTONED of a sword: having a button (see nouns) on its point so as to make it harmless → 1771
► BUTTON-POINTED of a sword: having a button (see nouns) on its point so as to make it harmless → 1659 obs.
► CULTRIVOROUS designating a knife-swallower or sword-swallower → 1833
► EMPTY of a sword: not bloodied → 1539 obs.
► ENSIFEROUS bearing or carrying a sword → 1656 obs.
► FANKED of a sword: set fast in the sheath → 1600 Sc.
► NAKED of a sword: not covered by a sheath → a1000
► NUT-BROWN of a sword or its blade: burnished → 1609 obs.
► REBATED of a sword, blade, etc.: blunted, dulled → 1574
► RIGHT-DRAWN of sword: drawn in a rightful or just cause → 1597 obs.
► STEELY of a blow: given with a sword or spear → 1562 obs.
► STREIT of a sword: drawn → 1386 obs.
► SWORDED equipped or armed with a sword → a1000
► UNREBATED of a sword: not blunted or dulled; sharp → 1579
► VOLUNTARY of a sword: offered freely or willingly in aid of some cause → 1771 poetic usage
► WAVED of a sword or dagger: having the edge undulated → 1688
ADVERBS
► EDGELING with the edge of a sword or similar weapon → a1000 obs.
► EDGELINGS with the edge of a sword or similar weapon → 1450 obs.
► EDGEWISE with the edge of a sword or similar weapon → 1594
INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
► BILBO’S THE WORD it’s time for swords, i.e. fighting → 1597 UK criminal’s sl.
NOUNS
► AIKUCHI a dagger or short sword manufactured without a hilt-guard, so that the hilt hits flush with the scabbard → 1875
► ALLONGE a thrust made with a sword, especially in fencing → 1675 obs.
► ANDREW a broadsword, an ‘Andrea Ferrara’ → 1618 obs.
► BACK-SWORD a sword with only one cutting edge → 1611 arch.
► BADELAIRE a short cutting sword or dagger with a broad, slightly curving blade → 1693
► BASELARD a long dagger or short sword with a hilt shaped like a capital H on its side, usually worn at the girdle by civilians → 1390
► BASTARD SWORD a sword which is of a different shape or size from the usual for its kind → 1418 military usage
► BEARING SWORD a large, two-handed ceremonial sword, typically carried point upright in procession → 1474
► BIL a sword → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► BILBO a sword noted for the temper and elasticity of its blade → 1597 UK criminals’ sl.
► BLUNT a blunt sword for fencing → 1611 obs.
► BOAT SHELL a boat-shaped guard on the hilt of a sword → 1754
► BOW the guard of a sword-hilt → 1701
► BRAND a sword; the blade of a sword → a1000 arch. or poetic usage
► BRANDIRON a sword → 1596 obs.
► BRANK a brand, a sword → 1480 obs.
► BROADSWORD a sword with a broad blade designed chiefly for cutting rather than thrusting → a1000
► BUM-BLADE a large sword → 1640 obs.
► BUTTON a knob of leather, rubber, etc., fitted to the point of a sword, so as to make it harmless → 1598
► CALIBOURNE ► CALIBURN ► CALIBURNO the name of King Arthur’s sword → 1297
► CALOTTE the cap of a sword-hilt → 1886
► CARVING KNIFE a sword → 1890 sl. (Bk.)
► CHEESE-CUTTER a sword → 1841 obs.
► CHEESE TOASTER a bayonet; a sword → 1751 sl, obs.
► CICISBEO a knot of ribbon fastened to a sword-hilt → 1771
► CINCTURE OF SWORD the girding on a sword, as a ceremony of investiture with a dukedom or earldom → 1587 obs.
► CINQUEDEA a short sword or broad-bladed dagger of which the blade has the breadth of five fingers → 1897
► COLD IRON a sword → 1696 sl.
► COLEE the stroke with the flat of sword given in dubbing a knight → 1430 obs.
► COURT SWORD a light sword formerly worn as part of a man’s court dress → 1807
► CRAMPET the chape of the scabbard of a sword → 1489
► CROSS-GUARD a transverse bar between the blade and hilt of a sword, serving as a guard for the wielder’s hand → 1805
► CROSSPIECE the part of the hilt of sword that protects the hand → 1830
► CUNDUM a false scabbard used to hide a sword → 1786 UK sl.
► CURTAL-AXE a short broad cutting sword; any having slashing sword → 1579 obs.
► CURTAN a broad, pointless sword → 1697 obs.
► CURTANA the pointless sword borne before the kings of England at their coronation; emblematically considered the sword of mercy; also called the sword of King Edward the Confessor → 1259
► CURTELACE a kind of short cutting sword; a cutlass → 1555 obs.
► CUTLASS a short sword with a flat slightly curved blade;, the sword with which sailors are armed → 1594
► DAGAN ► DAGEN ► DEGEN a sword → 1698 UK sl.
► DAH a short heavy sword, also used as a knife, especially in Burma (Myanmar) → 1832
► DAISHO a Japanese set of matched sword and dagger worn at the waist, especially by a samurai → 1923
► DENT vigorous wielding of the sword or other weapon → 1400 obs.
► DIEGO a Spanish sword, a very strong and heavy sword → 1709
► DOURLACH a short sword; a dagger → 1825 Sc. obs.
► DRESS SWORD a sword worn with ceremonial or formal dress → 1782
► EDGE a sword → a1000 poetic usage, obs.
► ESCRIME the art of fencing, with sword or sabre → 1652 obs.
► ESPADON a long-two-handed sword in the 15th-17th centuries → 1846
► ESTOC a short sword, worn at the girdle by mounted soldiers → 1846
► EXCALIBUR the name of King Arthur’s sword → 1450
► FALCHION a broad sword more or less curved with the edge on the convex side; later, a sword of any kind → 1303
► FALL the downward stroke of a sword, etc. → 1583
► FERK ► FIRK a cut or thrust with a sword → 1635 obs.
► FIDDLESTICK a sword → 1632 UK sl.
► FINGER GUARD the part of the hilt of a sword or dagger that protects the hand → 1810
► FLATCHET a sword → 1577 obs.
► FORTE the strongest part of a sword-blade → 1648
► FROG an attachment to a belt designed to hold a sword, bayonet, etc. → 1700
► GARE a sword → 1330 obs.
► GLADIUS a sword → 1873
► GLAIVE a sword, especially a broadsword → 1488 poetic usage, arch.
► GRIP the handle of a sword → 1867
► GRIPE the hilt of a sword → 1775
► GUARD the part of the hilt of a sword that protects the hand → 1596
► HAGGER something that hacks; a sword → 18C Sc.
► HALF-SWORD a sword with a blade half the length of a full-sized one; a short sword → 1552
► HANGER 1. a loop or strap on a sword-belt from which the sword was hung → 1599 obs.
2. a sword → 1672 UK criminals’ sl.
► HILT the handle of a sword or dagger → a1000
► IRON a sword → 1607 UK
► IRON-TOOTHPICK a sword → 1896 military sl. (Bk.)
► KATANA a long single-edged sword of the Japanese samurai → 1613
► KIRPAN the sword or dagger worn by Sikhs as a religious symbol → 1904
► KLEYWANG a single-edged Indonesian sword → 1783
► KNIFE a short sword → 1175
► KNITTING NEEDLE a sword → 1915 World War I Amer. sl.
► LACE a sword belt, used to support a sword → 1858
► LASH a sword → 1602 US sl.
► LIGHTNING ROD a sword → 1863 US military sl.
► LONGSWORD a sword with a long blade, especially one designed to be used with two hands → 1275
► LUNGE a thrust with a sword → 1748
► MACHAIRA a short single-edged sword with a slightly curved convex blade, used by the ancient Greeks → 1614
► MALCHUS a short cutting-sword → 1890 obs.
► MORGLAY a sword → 1582 chiefly literary usage, obs.
► MOULINET a circular swing of a sword or sabre → 1861
► MY GAWD ► OH MY GAWD a sword → 1960 Brit. rhyming sl.
► OMEYE a sword → 1927 UK rhyming sl. for ‘oh my gawd’
► OX-TONGUE a sword having a broad blade likened to the tongue of an ox → 1890
► PARAZON a small sword or dagger → 1623 obs.
► PARAZONIUM a small sword or dagger worn on the belt by the ancient Greeks and, later, by the Romans → 1751
► PEDANG in Malaysia and Indonesia, a type of long sword → 1817
► PIG-STICKER a sword → 1890
► PILCHER the outer covering of a sword, a scabbard → 1599 obs.
► PINKING IRON a sword → 1761 humorous usage
► PISTOLESE a short sword; a dagger → 1566 obs.
► PLAT the flat of a sword → 1440 obs.
► PLUMMET the pommel or knob on the hilt of a sword → 1488 Sc. obs.
► POKER a sword → 1684 obs.
► POMMEL a knob at the end of the hilt of a sword or dagger → 1330
► PORKER a sword → 1685 UK criminals’ sl.
► PRICK a dagger or pointed sword → 1350 obs.
► PRICKADO a stab with a sword → 1592 obs.
► PRICK-CAST a thrust with a long pointed sword → 1580 obs.
► PRIME in fencing: the lower half of a sword → 1639 obs.
► PUNTO a thrust with the point of the sword → 1601
► QUEER DEGEN a brass, iron, or steel-hilted sword, with no special ornamentation → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► QUEER TOL a brass or steel-hilted sword (rather than steel-hilted) → 1698 UK sl.
► QUILLON either of the two arms forming the cross-guard of a sword → 1884
► RACE a stroke of a sword, lance, etc. → 1450 obs.
► RAPIER a long, thin, sharp-pointed sword designed chiefly for thrusting → 1503
► REVERSE a backhanded stroke or cut with a sword → 1490
► RICASSO the flattened unsharpened part of the blade of a sword situation next to the hilt → 1884
► RIPON ► RIPPON a sword → 1785 sl.
► RIVERSO a backhanded stroke or cut with a sword → 1595
► ROOM CUTTLE ► RUM CUTTLE a sword → 1610 UK sl.
► ROUND a swinging stroke or blow with a sword → 1500 obs.
► RUM DAGEN ► RUM DEGEN a sword with a silver hilt or blade inlaid with silver → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► RUM JOB a sword with a silver hilt or blade inlaid with silver → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► RUM TILTER a sword with a silver hilt or blade inlaid with silver → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► RUM TOL a sword with a silver hilt or blade inlaid with silver → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► SABRE a cavalry sword having a curved blade specially adapted for cutting → 1680
► SAM ► SAMMY ► SAMS a Samurai sword → 2018 Black British sl.
► SAX a short sword or dagger → a1000 obs.
► SCHLAGER a basket-hilted duelling or fencing sword with a blunt tip and a long flat blade sharpened on the edge near the tip, of a type used by German university students in fencing duels → 1835
► SCIMITAR a short single-edged sword with a curved blade used chiefly in Turkey and the Middle East → 1530
► SHABBLE ► SHABLE a sabre or curved Sword → 1632 Sc.
► SHARP a small sword → 1390 obs.
► SHELL the semicircular guard of a sword → 1685
► SHORTSWORD a sword with a short blade, typically designed to be used with one hand → 1405
► SIDEARM a sword, bayonet, etc. → 1754
► SIMI SWORD in East Africa: a two-edged sword → 1887
► SINGLE-STICK a wooden sword used on board ship for teaching the use of the cutlass → 1889 (Bk.)
► SKEWER a sword → 1790 sl.
► SLASHER a sword; a knife; a weapon for slashing → 1815
► SLAUGH-SWORD a large two-handed sword → 1548 obs.
► SMALL SWORD a light sword, tapering gradually from the hilt to to the point → 1679
► SMITER a sword → 1591 obs.
► SPADO a cut-and-thrust sword → 1710 obs.
► SPADROON a sword much lighter than a broadsword, and made both to cut and thrust → 1798 obs.
► SPIT a sword → 1613 chiefly contemptuous usage
► SPIT-FROG a sword → 1615 contemptuous usage, obs.
► SPURTLE a sword → 1700
► STEEL a sword, bayonet, etc. → a1000 obs.
► STICK a stab or thrust with a sword, knife, or other pointed object → 1637
► STOCK ► STOCK-SWORD a thrusting sword → 1513 obs.
► STRIPE a blow or stroke with a sword or other weapon → 1475 obs.
► SUNDANG a heavy double-edged sword traditionally used in Malaysia, often having a blade with sinuous or wave-like shape → 1852
► SWINGER a large sword → 1673 obs.
► SWISS SWORD a basket-hilted sword, used in the 16th century by Swiss foot-soldiers → 1860
► SWORD-LAW government by the power of the sword, or by military force → 1667
► SWORD-WRACK destruction by the sword → 1646 obs.
► SWORDLET a small sword → 1884
► TACHI a long, single-edged Samurai sword with a slightly curved blade, worn slung from the belt → 1948
► TAIL ► TALE a sword → 1698 UK criminals’ sl. obs.
► TAIL-DRAWING privately taking a sword a from a gentleman’s side, either in a crowd, or as he walks along the streets at night → 1714 UK criminals’ sl.
► TALON the ‘heel’ of a blade, as of a sword → 1869
► TANTO a short sword or dagger worn in the sash, especially by warriors → 1885 Japanese
► THROUGH-PASS a sword thrust that passes right through something → 1673 obs.
► THRUST a contest or encounter with swords → 1602 obs.
► TICKLE-GIZZARD a sword → 1827 sl.
► TICKLE-PITCHER a sword → 1773 sl.
► TICKLER a sword → 1607 UK sl.
► TICKLE-TOBY a sword → 1837 sl.
► TILTER a rapier or sword → 1654 sl. obs.
► TOAD-STABBER a large knife, sword, or bayonet; now esp. a large folding knife, a pocketknife → 1877 Amer. dial.
► TOAD-STICKER a large knife, sword, or bayonet; now esp. a large folding knife, a pocketknife → 1847 Amer. dial.
► TOASTER a rapier or sword → 1751
► TOASTING-FORK a rapier or sword → 1807
► TOASTING-IRON a sword → 1596 arch.
► TOL ► TOLE a sword → 1698 UK criminals’ sl.
► TONGUE the part of the blade on which the gripe, shell, and pummel are fixed → 1853
► TOOL a weapon of war, esp. a sword → 1386 arch.
► TOOTHPICK a large bowie knife; a sword → 1843 Amer. dial.
► TOWER HILL VINEGAR the swordsman’s block (the sword preceded the noose as a means of execution) → 16C sl.
► TRANCHEFER ► TRANCHFER a sword → 1533 obs.
► TSUBA a Japanese sword-guard → 1889
► TUCK a slender, pointed, straight, thrusting sword; a rapier → 1508 arch.
► TURK a sword of Turkish design or manufacture; a scimitar → 1637 obs.
► TURK’S KNIFE a single-edged sword with a curved blade; a scimitar → 1688 obs.
► UNICORN GUARD a guard in which the sword is advanced well to the front of the fencer → 1617 obs.
► WACADASH a Japanese short sword → 1613 obs.
► WAFTER a sword made with a blunt edge for performances, as sword dances → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WAKIZASHI a type of samurai sword, shorter than the katana, about nine and a half inches in length → 1727
► WALKING SWORD a light sword with a straight, single-edged blade (double-edged towards the point), worn when travelling or walking out → 1677
► WASTER a wooden sword used in sword exercise → 1455 obs.
► WEB the blade of a sword → 1600 obs.
► WHANGER a kind of short sword → 1541 chiefly Sc.
► WHEEL-GUARD a circular guard on a sword or dagger → 1860
► WHINIARD ► WHINYARD a short-sword → 1478
► WITCHER-TILTER a silver-hilted sword → 1674 UK criminals’ sl.
► YATAGHAN a sword of Muslim countries, having a handle without a guard and often a double-curved blade → 1819
► YEPIE a blow as with a sword → 1825 Sc. obs.
NOUNS – PERSON
► BILBO-MAN one who is armed with a bilbo, a sword noted for the temper and elasticity of its blade → 1619
► BILBO-SMITH a maker of bilboes → 1621
► BLADE GLOMMER a sword swallower → 2006 carnival usage (Bk.)
► BLADE a swordsman → 1891 (Bk.)
► BLADE-FORGER a maker of blades → 1831
► BLADER 1. the user of a blade; a swordsman → 1577 obs.
2. a maker of blades; a blade-smith → 1598 obs.
► BLADESMITH a sword cutler → 1540
► BROTHER OF THE BLADE a swordsman, soldier, or fellow of the same occupation → 1652 chiefly literary usage
► ESCRIMER a person who practices fencing; a fencer, a swordsman → 1572 obs.
► GLADIATOR 1. in ancient Rome: a person who fought with a sword or other weapon at public shows, usually a slave or captive trained for the purpose → 1541
2. a professional swordsman or fencer → 1621 obs.
► SELICTAR the sword-bearer of a Turkish chieftain → 1684 obs.
► SPADASIN ► SPADASSIN a swordsman, a bravo, a bully → 1895 (Bk.)
► SWORD-BEARER a person who bears a sword, a person who wears or carries a sword → 1431
► SWORD-CUTLER a cutler who makes swords or sword-blades → 1678
► SWORDER 1. a person who kills another with a sword; an assassin, a cut-throat; a person who habitually fights with a sword; a gladiator → 1577
2. a person skilled in the use of a sword → 1815
► SWORDMAN a man who uses or fights with a sword; a gladiator; one skilled in using a sword → 1387
► SWORD-SLIPER a sword-sharpener → 1478 Sc. & N. Eng. dial., obs.
► SWORD-SMITH a smith who makes swords → 1872
► SWORDSTER a person addicted to the use of the sword → 1881
► TAIL DRAWER ► TAYLE DRAWER a sword-stealer, one who takes gentlemen’s swords from their sides → 1698 UK criminals’ sl. obs.
► TOSS-BLADE one who ‘tosses’ a blade or sword; a fighter → 1659
► WUXIA an itinerant swordsman or warrior of ancient China → 1963
VERBS
► ABRAID to draw a sword → a1000 obs.
► ADRAW to draw out; to draw a sword → 1205 obs.
► BE IN A MAN’S BEEF to wound a man with a sword → 1785 sl.
► BEND to aim or direct a spear or sword → 1590 obs.
► BLADE IT OUT to fight a matter out with the sword → 1566 obs.
► BRAID to draw a sword or knife → a1000 obs.
► BRANDISH of a sword or other weapon: to be flourished as a threat or display → 1649 obs.
► BRANGLE to flourish or brandish a sword → 1513 obs.
► BUTTON to fit the sharp tip of a sword, fencing foil) with a button (see nouns) so as to make it safe for training exercises → 1615 obs.
► CHINE to cut a person on the back a sword, axe, hatchet, etc. → 1612 obs.
► CLISH-CLASH to sound like the clashing of swords → 1610
► COME IN to lunge or thrust with the sword with the aim of making a fatal or decisive hit → 1594
► COME TO POINTS to begin fighting with swords → 1762 obs.
► CONTROL THE POINT to bear or beat down the point of an opponent’s sword → 1601 obs.
► EXHALE to draw a sword from the scabbard → 1600 obs.
► FLISH-FLASH to make cuts and slashes with a sword → 1641 obs.
► HEW to cut with swinging strokes of a sword, axe, etc. → a1000
► IMBRUE to stain one’s sword with blood → 1529
► LET DAYLIGHT THROUGH to wound with a sword, knife, etc. → 1758 sl. arch.
► LUG OUT to draw a sword → 1688 UK sl.
► OUT-BRAID to draw a sword → 1330 obs.
► OUTFLING to whip out a sword quickly → 1450 arch.
► RIT to thrust a sword through a person → 1808 obs.
► RUSH to pull out one’s sword hastily → 1440 obs.
► SCOUR to thrust a sword in a person’s body → 1613
► SHRINE to bury a sword in a person’s body → 1614 obs.
► SKEWER to run through with a sword or other weapon → 1837
► SMITE to strike a person with a sword in order to inflict serious injury or death → 1275
► STEEK to stab or pierce with a sword, spear, etc. → 1300 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► STICK to stab or pierce with a sword, knife, etc. → a1000
► SWACK a brandish a sword → 1425 Sc.
► SWASH to make a noise as of swords clashing or of a sword beating on a shield → 1556
► SWING to strike a blow with a sword → 1375
► VIBRATE to brandish or flourish a sword → 1634 obs.
► WHIP to pierce with a sword-thrust; to run through → 1699 sl. obs.
Lexicophilia 