Advertisement

Origin and history of rapier

rapier(n.)

type of pointed sword, 1550s, from French rapière, from espee rapiere "long, pointed two-edged sword" (late 15c.), in which the adjective is of uncertain origin; perhaps it is from a derisive use of raspiere "poker, scraper." Dutch, Danish rapier, German Rappier are from French.

Originally a long, pointed, two-edged sword with a guard for the hand, used, especially in 16c.-17c., for either cutting or thrusting; later, in fencing, a light, sharp-pointed sword for thrusting.

also from 1550s

Advertisement

More to explore

tuck
late 14c., "to pull or gather up," earlier "to pluck, stretch" (implied in tucker "one who finishes clothes by stretching them on tenters, late 13c. as a surname), probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch tucken "pull up, draw up, tug" (cognate with Old English tucian "mis
dagger
.-17c. swordsmen held it in the left hand to parry thrusts from the opponent's rapier....
blade
Old English blæd "a leaf," also "a leaf-like part" (of a spade, oar, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *bladaz (source also of Old Frisian bled "leaf," German Blatt, Old Saxon, Danish, Dutch blad, Old Norse blað), from PIE *bhle-to-, suffixed form (past participle) of root *bhel- (3) "t
sword
"offensive weapon consisting of an edged blade fitted to a hilt, used for cutting or thrusting," Middle English sword, from Old English sweord, swyrd (West Saxon), sword (Northumbrian) "sword," from Proto-Germanic *swerdam (source also of Old Saxon, Old Frisian swerd, Old Norse s
brand
Old English brand, brond "fire, flame, destruction by fire; firebrand, piece of burning wood, torch," and (poetic) "sword," from Proto-Germanic *brandaz "a burning" (source also of Old Norse brandr, Old High German brant, Old Frisian brond "firebrand; blade of a sword," German br
steel
modified form of iron produced with a small portion of carbon, not found in nature but known in ancient times, Middle English stele, from Old English style "steel," from noun use of Proto-Germanic adjective *stakhlijan "made of steel" (source also of Old Saxon stehli, Old Norse,
stele
"ancient upright slab," usually inscribed or elaborately sculptured, 1820, from Greek stēlē "standing block, slab," especially one bearing an inscription, such as a gravestone or milestone. This probably is from PIE *stal-na-, suffixed form of root *stel- "to put, stand, put in o
sleet
c. 1300, slete, "precipitation of mingled snow and rain," probably from an unrecorded Old English *slete, *slyte, which is perhaps related to Middle High German sloz, Middle Low German sloten (plural) "hail," from Proto-Germanic *slautjan- (source also of dialectal Norwegian slut
hazard
c. 1300, name of a game at dice, from Old French hasard, hasart "game of chance played with dice," also "a throw of six in dice" (12c.), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Spanish azar "an unfortunate card or throw at dice," which is said to be from Arabic az-zahr (for al-zahr) "
communion
late 14c., communioun, "participation in something; that which is common to all; union in religious worship, doctrine, or discipline," from Old French comunion "community, communion" (12c.), from Latin communionem (nominative communio) "fellowship, mutual participation, a sharing

Share rapier

Advertisement
Trending
Dictionary entries near rapier
Advertisement