Obs. Forms: 4–6 baselarde, baslard(e, 5 basulard, 6 baslaerd bazelarde, 7 basiliard, 4–8 baselard. [a. AF. baselard(e (Act 12 Richard II.), OF. basalart (med.L. bassilardus); perh. from same source as OF. baselaire, bazelaire, badelaire, probably a derivative of late L. badile, badillus a bill-hook (P. Meyer); the z (s) for d being of Provençal origin. In baselard the suffix is evidently -ARD augmentative.] A species of dagger or hanger, usually worn at the girdle.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 303. Alle þat bereþ baslarde, brode swerde or launce.
a. 1450. Myrc, 48. Baselard ny bawdryke were thou non.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 125. Sodeynly with a scharp basulard he smet the Kyng among the boweles.
c. 1500. in Ripon Ch. Acts, 303. Cum gladiis vocatis hyngers vel baselardys.
1598. Stow, Surv., xxiv. (1603), 221. Drew his basiliard.
1602. in Southey’s Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 338. Two baslaerd swords, the blades to be one yard and half a quarter of length.
1788. New Lond. Mag., 150. The Mayor, drawing his baselard, grievously wounded Wat [Tyler] in the neck.
