Obs. exc. Hist. (or arch.). Forms: 6–7 curtleax(e, 6 curtilax, 6–7 courtelax(e, curtelax(e, 7 curt-, courtlax, curtelaxe, courtle-axe, cortelax, 6–9 curtle-ax(e, curtle axe, 8– curtal-axe. [A much perverted form of the word CUTLASS (in 16th c. coutelas, coutelase, cuttleass, etc.), through the intermediate perversions cut(t)le-ax, and curtelas, courtelace, CURTELACE, the peculiarities of which it combines. The form curtal ax, with its variants, was so distinct from cutlass, that it acquired a kind of permanent standing, the identification of the final part with AX, axe, being favored by the use of the weapon in delivering slashing blows.]
A short broad cutting sword, a CUTLASS; any heavy slashing sword. (Apparently sometimes taken by persons unfamiliar with the weapon for some kind of battle-ax. Cf. Spenser’s CURTAXE.)
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1676), 798. His Father … drew out his Curtleax and wounded him.
1590. Lodge, Euphues Gold. Leg., Pref. Hewn down by a soldier with his curtle axe.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. iii. 119. A gallant curtelax vpon my thigh.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xxi. (1660), 229. A Fawcheon or Court-lax to slash and wound his Enemy.
1665. G. Havers, P. della Valle’s Trav. E. India, 109. A short and very broad Sword like a Cortelax.
1813. Scott, Triermain, III. xiii. A weighty curtal-axe he bare.
1874. Motley, Barneveld, I. viii. 334. Swinging the sharpest curtal-axes.
