[f. BASKET sb. 3.] A hilt provided with a defence for the swordsman’s hand, consisting of narrow plates of steel curved into the shape of a basket.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 353. With basket-hilt, that would hold broth, And serve for fight and dinner both.
1708. W. King, Cookery (1807), 81. Their beef, they often in their murrions stew’d, And in their basket-hills their bev’rage brew’d.
1820. Scott, Monast., xiv. My father’s broad-sword with its great rusty basket-hilt.
b. attrib. = next.
c. 1550. Rob. Hood (Ritson), iii. 41. Then Robin got on his basket-hilt sword.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 141. You Basket-hilt stale Iuggler, you!
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 109, ¶ 4. His Viol hangs by his Basket-hilt sword.
