Saya

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sheath or scabbard used to hold the blade of a sword ; a term in Japanese martial arts for the holder or covering of a katana ; in some cultures, a traditional container or case for sharp implements
2. A protective covering crafted to encase and shield the cutting edge of a blade ; an element in East Asian weaponry referring specifically to the housing of a sword ; a holder designed to safely store knives or swords
3. An object fashioned to enclose and safeguard a sword’s blade ; the compartment that houses a bladed weapon in certain traditions ; a specialized sleeve or receptacle for storing sharp tools or arms

Etymology: The word "saya" names the scabbard, or sheath, that covers a sword blade, and it reached English by way of the Philippines. It is a Tagalog term, borrowed into English from Tagalog, where it is itself a borrowing from Spanish "saya," a word for a skirt or long outer garment. The resemblance to a wrapping of cloth is the link: a long covering draped over something, here repurposed for the blade's protective case. The Spanish sense of the word points to the same idea of a flowing outer garment, which is why a sheath shaped to hold a blade and a skirt shaped to cover the body share a name. Tagalog speakers adopted the term from Spanish during the centuries of Spanish rule in the islands, and English later took it from Tagalog, so the word has passed through three languages before reaching the sense of a blade's cover.

Synonyms: skirt, gown, dress, robe