Small-Sword

Small-Sword
Sometimes known as a "court-sword", a "walking-sword", or "town-sword", small-swords developed in the late Renaissance as a personal dueling tool and weapon of self-defense. Most popular in the 1700's it is sometimes confused with the rapier. It consisted almost exclusively of a sharp pointed metal rod with a much smaller guard and finger-rings. Its blade was typically a hollow triangular shape and was much thicker at the hilt. Most had no edge at all, and were merely rigid, pointed, metal rods. They were popular with the upper classes especially as decorative fashion accessories, worn like jewelry. In a skilled hand the small sword was an effective and deadly instrument. Until the early 1800s it continued to be used even against older rapiers and even some cutting swords. It is the small-sword rather than the rapier which leads to the epee and foil of modern sport fencing.

Medieval glossary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • small sword — noun A light thrusting sword for fencing or duelling • • • Main Entry: ↑small …   Useful english dictionary

  • small|sword — «SML SRD, SOHRD», noun. a light sword tapering from the hilt to the point and designed for thrusting, used in fencing …   Useful english dictionary

  • Small sword — French officer small sword, c. 1815 The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, fr: épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one handed sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the late Renaissance.… …   Wikipedia

  • small sword — noun chiefly historical a light tapering sword used for duelling …   English new terms dictionary

  • small-sword — n. chiefly historical a light, tapering thrusting sword used for fencing or dueling …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sword — (s[=o]rd), n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver[eth], Sw. sv[ a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually sharp pointed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sword arm — Sword Sword (s[=o]rd), n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver[eth], Sw. sv[ a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sword bayonet — Sword Sword (s[=o]rd), n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver[eth], Sw. sv[ a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sword bearer — Sword Sword (s[=o]rd), n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver[eth], Sw. sv[ a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sword belt — Sword Sword (s[=o]rd), n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver[eth], Sw. sv[ a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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