guisarme

or gi·sarme

[ gi-zahrm ]

noun

1. a shafted weapon having as a head a curved, double-edged blade with a beak at the back.

Word History and Origins

Origin of guisarme¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French g(u)isarme, gisarne, possibly of Germanic origin; compare Old High German getīsarn, literally, “weeding iron,” equivalent to get(an) “to weed” ( German jäten ) + īsarn “iron”; iron

Example Sentences

A scene of indescribable confusion ensued; the darkness of the hall was becoming every moment more profound--a number of the Hussites made their escape, and untied others; while still, through the midst of the crowd, Richard of Woodville slowly advanced towards the door, and knocking the guisarme out of the hand of one of the men who seemed most strongly bent on opposing his passage, he brought the point of his sword to his throat, exclaiming, "Back, or die!"

From Project Gutenberg

A rush was instantly made towards Richard of Woodville; and one man, with a guisarme, thrust himself right in his way; but laughing loud, the young knight bared his long, heavy sword, and waved it over his head, grasping Ella by the hand, and exclaiming in English, "On, my men! on! open a way, there!"

From Project Gutenberg

He could no longer swing the trusty little axe which had done good service before; but there was the deadly guisarme at his side.

From Project Gutenberg

He had, too--and glad enough was he of it at that moment--the deadly guisarme, that old-fashioned weapon that combined a spear and scythe, and was used with horrible effect in the charges of the day.

From Project Gutenberg

So Ralph went up on the wall-top and took the Elder's hand, and took from him the ancient guisarme, which was inlaid with gold letters of old time; and he swore in a loud voice to be a true brother of the Shepherd-folk, and raised the weapon aloft and shook it strongly, and all the Folk cried, "Hail our brother!" and the Champions shouted gladly withal, and great joy there was in that ingle of the ancient work.

From Project Gutenberg