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The English language terminology used in theclassification ofswords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification, or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a single-edged or double-edged knife that grew incrementally longer and more complex with technological advances.
Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (e.g. "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures, and fabrication technology. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. Inmodern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings.
Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. Others are modern or early modern terms used byantiquarians,curators, and modern-day sword enthusiasts for historical swords.
Terminology was further complicated by terms introduced[2] or misinterpreted[3][4][5] in the 19th century by antiquarians and in 20th centurypop culture,[6] and by the addition of new terms such as "great sword", "Zweihänder" (instead ofBeidhänder), and "cut-and-thrust sword".[7]Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the termspada da lato[8] into "side-sword". Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term "broadsword" by these associations. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter.
The most well-known systematic typology of blade types of the European medieval sword is theOakeshott typology, although this is also a modern classification and not a medieval one.Elizabethans used descriptive terms such as "short", "bastard", and "long" which emphasized the length of the blade, and "two-handed" for any sword that could be wielded by two hands.
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The termtwo-handed sword may refer to any large sword designed to be used primarily with two hands:
The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century).[9]During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword, while "long sword" or "long-sword" referred to therapier (in the context of Renaissance or Early Modern fencing).[10]
The term "single-handed sword" or "one-handed sword" was coined to distinguish from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" swords."Single-handed sword" is used bySir Walter Scott.[11] It is also used as a possible gloss of the obscure termtonsword by Nares (1822);[12] "one-handed sword" is somewhat later, recorded fromc. 1850.
Some swords were designed for left-hand use, although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".[13]
Great swords orgreatswords are related to thelong swords of theMiddle Ages.[14][15][16][dubious –discuss] The great sword was developed during the Renaissance, but its earlier cousin the Scottish Claymore was very similar in size and use, like the "outsized specimens" between 160 and 180 cm (63 and 71 in) (approx. the same height as the user) such as theOakeshott type XIIa orOakeshott type XIIIa. These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage.
The Scottish name "claymore" (Scottish Gaelic:claidheamh mór, lit. "large/great sword")[17][18] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or thebasket-hilted sword.[citation needed] The two-handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword.
TheZweihänder ("two-hander") orBeidhänder ("both-hander") is a true two-handed sword, in the sense that it cannot be wielded in only one hand. It was a specialist weapon wielded by certainLandsknechte (mercenary soldiers), so-calledDoppelsöldners.
These are double-edged, usually straight-bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility.
Jian (simplified Chinese:剑;traditional Chinese:劍;pinyin:jiàn;Cantonese:gim) is a double-edged straightsword used during the last 2,500 years inChina. The first Chinese sources that mention thejian date to the 7th century BC during theSpring and Autumn period;[19] one of the earliest specimens being theSword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 cm (18 to 31 in) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70 cm (28 in) blade-length would weigh about 700 to 900 g (1.5 to 2.0 lb).[20] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles ofChinese martial arts. Two handed jians from the time of theChu andHan dynasty were up to 58 in (150 cm) long.
In modern times, the termlongsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. TheGermanlanges Schwert ("long sword") in 15th-centurymanuals did not necessarily denote a type of weapon, but the technique of fencing with both hands at the hilt.[citation needed]
The Frenchépée bâtarde and the Englishbastard sword originate in the 15th or 16th century,[citation needed] originally having the general sense of "irregular sword or sword of uncertain origin". It was "[a sword] which was neither French, nor Spanish, nor properlyLandsknecht [German], but longer than any of these sturdy swords."[21]Espée bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords.[22]
Joseph Swetnam states that the bastard sword is midway in length between an arming sword and a long sword,[23] and Randall Cotgrave's definition seems to imply this, as well. The Frenchépée de passot was also known asépée bâtarde[citation needed] (i.e., bastard sword) and alsocoustille à croix[24] (literally a cross-hilted blade). The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting.[25] Theépée de passot was the sidearm of thefranc-archers (French or Breton bowmen of the 15th and 16th centuries).[26] The termpassot comes from the fact that these swords passed (passaient) the length of a "normal" short sword.[26]
The "Masters of Defence" competition organised byHenry VIII in July 1540 listed[27] "two hande sworde", "bastard sworde", and "longe sworde" as separate items (as it should in Joseph Swetnam's context).[28][29][30][self-published source?]
Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords.[31] However,George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century).[9] During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword.[10]
TheElizabethan long sword (cf. George Silver[32] and Joseph Swetnam) is a single-handed "cut-and-thrust" sword with a 4 ft (1.2 m) blade[23] similar to the long rapier. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." Historical terms (15th to 16th century) for this type of sword included theItalianspada longa (lunga) andFrenchépée longue.
The termlongsword has been used to refer to different kinds of sword depending on historical context:
Thespatha was a double-edged longsword used by the Romans. The idea for thespatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. It was longer than thegladius, and had more reach, so thespatha was most popular with soldiers in the cavalry. The blade could range between 0.5 and 1 m (1 ft 8 in and 3 ft 3 in) long while the handle was usually between 18 and 20 cm (7 and 8 in).
The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handedarming sword.[citation needed] The arming sword was wrongly labelled a broadsword by antiquarians as the medieval swords were similar in blade width to the military swords of the day (that were also sometimes labeled as broadswords) and broader than the dueling swords and ceremonial dress swords.[citation needed]
Knives such as theseax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60 cm (1 and 2 ft), they are sometimes construed asswords because of their longer blades. This is especially the case for weapons from antiquity, made before the development of high quality steel that is necessary for longer swords, in particular:
Oversized two-handers used as parade swords or ceremonial weapons often exceeded the length and weight of practical weapons of war.
The edgeless swords category comprises weapons which are related to or labelled as "swords" but do not emphasise hacking or slashing techniques or have any cutting edges whatsoever. The majority of these elongated weapons were designed for agility, precision and rapid thrusting blows to exploit gaps in the enemy's defences; the major joints of the arms, the opening in a visor. However they mainly saw prominence outside the battlefield as a duelling weapon.
Thebasket-hilted sword is asword type of theearly modern era characterised by a basket-shapedguard that protects the hand. The basket hilt is a development of thequillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages.In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as thebroadsword.[37][38]
TheSpartiatēs were always armed with axiphos as a secondary weapon. Among most Greek warriors, this weapon had an iron blade of about 60 cm (24 in). The Spartan version of the sword typically had a blade about 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) in length. The Spartan's shorter weapon proved deadly in the crush caused by colliding phalanx formations, as it was far more capable of being thrust through gaps in the enemy's shield wall and armour, where there was little to no room for longer edged weapons. The groin and throat were among the favourite targets.
The term "rapier" appeared in the English lexicon via the Frenchépée rapière which either compared the weapon to a rasp or file; it may be a corruption of "rasping sword"[39] which referred to the sound the blade makes[40] when it comes into contact with another blade. There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier".[5]
Some swords categorised as rapiers are completely edgeless or have only a partially sharpened blade, however the majority have effective cutting blades.
ThePanzerstecher ("armour stabber") is a German and East European weapon with a long, edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section for penetrating armour.[41][42][43] Early models were either two-handers or "hand-and-a-half" hilted,[44] while later 16th and 17th century models (also known askoncerz) were one-handed and used by cavalry.[45]
The "tuck" (Frenchestoc, Italianstocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting.[citation needed] In French,estoc also means thrust or point; andestoc et taille means cut and thrust.[citation needed]
The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten".[citation needed]
Thesmall sword orsmallsword (alsocourt sword ordress sword,French:épée de cour)[citation needed] is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting[citation needed] which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the lateRenaissance.[citation needed] The height of the small sword's popularity was between the mid-17th and late 18th century.[citation needed] It is thought to have appeared inFrance and spread quickly across the rest ofEurope.[citation needed] The small sword was the immediate predecessor of the Épée de Combat from which theÉpée developed[46] and its method of use—as typified in the works of such authors as Sieur de Liancour,Domenico Angelo, Monsieur J. Olivier, and Monsieur L'Abbat—developed into the techniques of the French classical school of fencing.[citation needed] Small swords were also used as status symbols and fashion accessories; for most of the 18th century anyone, civilian or military, with pretensions to gentlemanly status would have worn a small sword on a daily basis.[citation needed]
These are single-cutting edged, usually thick or curved construction bladed swords, typically designed for stonger slashing, chopping, severing limbs, tripping or broad sweeping techniques; but were often very poorly designed for stabbing. Swordsmen were trained to use the bladed side in circumventing an opponent's protected flank (known as "curve into the guard"), and the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. The curve automatically makes a swing draw an arc making it much easier to slash.
Thebacksword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. The backsword blade was cheaper to manufacture than a two-edged blade. This type of sword was first developed in Europe in the 15th century and reflected the emergence of asymmetric guards, which made a two-edged blade somewhat redundant. The backsword reached its greatest use in the 17th and 18th century when many cavalry swords, such as the British1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, were of this form.
Dao are single-edgedChinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. The most common form is also known as theChinesesabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to asChinesebroadswords. In China, the dao is considered one of the four traditional weapons, along with thegun (stick or staff),qiang (spear), and thejian (sword). It is considered "The General of All Weapons".
Thehook sword,twin hooks,fu tao orshuang gou (simplified Chinese:钩;traditional Chinese:鈎 or 鉤;pinyin:Gou), also known ashu tou gou (tiger head hook), is a Chinese weapon traditionally associated withnorthern styles of Chinese martial arts andWushu weapons routines, but now often practiced bysouthern styles as well.
Unlike thexiphos, which is a thrusting weapon, thekopis was a hacking weapon in the form of a thick, curved single edged iron sword. In Athenian art, Spartan hoplites were often depicted using akopis instead of thexiphos, as thekopis was seen as a quintessential "villain" weapon in Greek eyes.[47]
Thekhopesh is anancient Egyptian curved short sword with a overall length of approx. 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in) and was typically made of bronze or iron.
Historically,katana (刀) were one of the traditionally madeJapanese swords (日本刀,nihontō)[48][49] that were used by thesamurai offeudal Japan.[50] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade usually with a round guard and long grip to accommodate two hands.
Thehanger (obs.whinyard, whinger, cuttoe), wood-knife, orhunting sword is a long knife or short sword that hangs from the belt and was popular as both a hunting tool and weapon of war.[51][52]
Thefalchion (Frenchbraquemart,[53] Spanishbracamarte) proper is a wide straight-bladed but curved edgedhanger or long knife.[54] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the earlycutlass.
Thecutlass or curtal-axe also known as a falchion (Frenchbadelaire, braquemart,[55] coutelas,[56] malchus; Italiancoltellaccio, storta; Germanmesser,[57] dussack, malchus) is a broad-bladed curvedhanger or long knife. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boardingsabre.[citation needed]
The Britishsabre, Americansaber, Frenchsabre, Spanishsable, Italiansciabola, GermanSäbel, Russiansablya, Hungarianszablya, Polishszabla, and Ukrainianshablya is a single-edged curved bladed cavalry sword.[58]
Thescimitar (Frenchcimeterre, Italianscimitarra) is a type of saber that came to refer in general to any sabre used by the Turks or Ottomans (kilic), Persians (shamshir) and more specifically theStradioti[59] (Albanian and Greek mercenaries who fought in the French-Italian Wars and were employed throughout Western Europe).[60][61] The scimitar proper was theStradioti saber,[62][63] and the term was introduced into France byPhilippe de Commines (1447 – 18 October 1511) ascimeterre,[64] Italy (especially the Venetian Republic who hired thestradioti as mercenaries) asscimitarra, and England ascimeter or scimitar via the French and Italian terms.
