Hellebarde

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical weapon characterized by a long handle and a blade that combines both cutting and piercing capabilities for use in battles
2. An ancient military tool that consists of a long pole with a sharp blade at its end, designed for effective combat and defense
3. A traditional combat weapon featuring a lengthy shaft topped with a blade that is suited for both slashing and thrusting attacks

Etymology: The weapon's name is a compound of two Middle High German words, "helm" and "barte." Today "Helm" means helmet in German, but in the older compound it meant the handle or shaft, a sense related to English "helve." "Barte" was a broad axe, so the name literally meant something like "shaft-axe," which describes the weapon's basic design: a long pole topped with an axe-like blade. The name spread across Europe in several forms. French speakers wrote "hallebarde," Italians "alabarda," and English adopted the French-influenced spelling. The German spelling with "Hell-" is probably a later reshaping, likely through association with "Hölle" (hell), which made the name sound more fearsome. The original sense of the first element was never about hell or helmets.

Synonyms: halberd