Forms: 1–4 sweord, (1 sueord, swurd), 1, 4 (6 Sc.) suord, 1, 6 swyrd, 3–5 (6 Sc.) suerd, 3–6 swerd, (3 swærd, swuerd), 4–6 swerde, sworde, (4 surd, squorde, Ayenb. zuord, 4–5 swerid, swert, 5 sward, swirde, swhirde, squrd, sqwerd, 6 sweard(e, swyrde, swurde, shorde, showrde, swourd, swoord(e, Sc. swrd, sourd), 1, 5– sword. [OE. sweord str. n. = OS., OFris. swerd, MLG. swert, MDu. swaert (Du. zwaard), OHG., MHG. swert (G. schwert), ON. sverð (Sw. svärd, Da. sverd):—OTeut. *swerdom.]
1. A weapon adapted for cutting and thrusting, consisting of a handle or hilt with a cross-guard, and a straight or curved blade with either one or two sharp edges and a sharp point (or sometimes with blunt edges, and used only for thrusting).
Swords are of various shapes and sizes, some with distinctive names, as BROADSWORD, CLAYMORE, RAPIER, SABRE, SCIMITAR, etc.; but, without qualification, the word is commonly understood to mean a large weapon such as those used in warfare.
Beowulf, 2638 (Gr.). Helmas and heard sweord.
971. Blickl. Hom., 11. Anra ʓehwylc hæfde sweord ofer his hype.
a. 1000. Fight at Finnsburg 17 (Gr.). Sigeferð and Eaha hyra sword ʓetuʓon.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 47. Mid swurdum & sahlum.
c. 1205. Lay., 8908. Þi mon he sæl bi-cumen … & þat ich þe wullen swerien Uppen mine sweorden.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1307. Ysaac … bar ðe wude … And abraham ðe fier and ðe swerd bar.
c. 1275. Passion of our Lord, 200, in O. E. Misc., 43. Þo iseyh ihesu crist þat peter so dude, Put in, he seyde, þi sweord.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 386. Corineus suerd sone brac, so strong he smote & vaste.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15721 (Cott.). Sper and suerd [Gött. surd] and mace þai bring. Ibid., 21710 (Edin.). Mocht na kingis suorde [Fairf. squorde] do mare.
1340. Ayenb., 48. Mid oȝene zuorde man may himzelue sle.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 112. And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5741. Mony Troiens … Thurgh swap of his sword swaltyn belyue!
1451. Lincoln Diocese Documents, 50. A hole harmor of plate & my Swirde.
1534. in W. Kelly, Notices Illustr. Drama (1865), 191. I borrowyd a shorde and a bokelar, wch showrde and bokelar he allmust bothe loste.
1539. Bible (Great), Matt. xxvi. 52. One of them which were wyth Iesus, stretched out his hande, and drue his swearde…. Then sayd Iesus vnto hym: put vp thy swearde into hys sheath.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 63. The prouerbe saith, he that striketh with the swoorde, Shalbe strikyn with the scaberde.
1600. Breton, Pasquil’s Fooles-cappe, xliii. Hee that … by his side can finely weare his swearde.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., V. i. 191. You drew your sword vpon me without cause.
1782. Cowper, Royal George, 21. His sword was in the sheath.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, V. 528. A moment hand to hand, And sword to sword, and horse to horse we hung.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), II. IV. x. 511. A fine specimen of the old Scottish two handed sword.
b. As used on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of honor or authority (sword of honor, of state, etc.).
1429. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 146. The toon was a swerde of mercy, the oothir of astate.
1483. Coron. Rich. III., in L. G. W. Legg, Eng. Coron. Rec. (1901), 195. Therle of Northumberland … with the Pointless Sword naked in his hand, which signifyed Mercie…. Therle of Kent bare ye second sword … with a Point which signifyed Justice to the Temporallitee, The Lord Lovell bare ye third Sword … with a Point which signifyed Justice to the Cleargie…. Therle of Surrey bare ye fourth Sword … with a rich scabbard, being called the Sword of Estate.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 81. And he delyveryd hare the swerde, and she toke it to the erle of Arnedelle, and he bare it before hare.
1578. Moysie, Mem. (Bannatyne Cl.), 11. The erles of Angus quho buir the croune, the erle of Lennox the septer, and the erle of Mar the suord of honour.
1831. Greville, Mem. (1874), II. 137. The tall, grim figure of Lord Grey close beside him with the sword of state in his hand.
1891. A. H. Craufurd, Gen. Craufurd, 271. To subscribe in order to present this General with a sword of honour.
c. phr. (a) Fencing (see quot. a. 1700). (b) Sword-in-hand, armed with a sword; fig. militant.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Within the Sword, from the Sword to the Right Hand. Without the Sword, all the Man’s Body above the Sword.
1838. J. Mitchell, Thoughts on Tactics, 37. The Russians never ventured, unless when covered by chevaux-de-frise, to await the sword-in-hand onsets of the Turks.
1906. Daily Chron., 23 Aug., 4/6. A typical South American sword-in-hand politician.
d. A wooden imitation of a sword, used in fencing exercise, etc.; also, the blade of a foil.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 64. The Fort or strong [of a foil], which extends from the part of the hilt next the Sword about a third part of the whole length thereof.
1697. J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 9. Accoutred with paper caps, and wooden swords.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. i. 2, note. The Gladiators, in learning their Exercises, played with wooden Swords, called rudes.
2. fig. Something that wounds or kills, a cause of death or destruction, a destroying agency; also, something figured as a weapon of attack in spiritual warfare.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 218 [Eph. vi. 17]. Nymað þæs ʓeleafan scyld, and ðæs hihtes helm, and þæs Halʓan Gastes swurd, þet is, Godes word.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 91. Nim ðin sweord, ðat is, godes word.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 61. Bute we turnen to gode anradliche, he wile his swerd draȝen, þat is his wrake.
13[?]. Cursor M., 11371 (Gött.). Þe suord of soru thoru hir hert stod.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 127. Wyntyr that … with his swerd of cold so sore hadde greuyd.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 7983. The Swerd, I mene, of Ryghtwysnesse.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 3467. The sharpe swerde of deth … Spared no creature.
1514. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 90. This violent and contageous suord of pestilence.
c. 1530. Hickscorner, 104. They saye they be smyten with the swerde of poverty.
1539. Bible (Great), Ps. lvii. 4. Whose tethe are speares and arowes, and their tonge a sharpe swerd.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 87. This Auarice … hath bin The Sword of our slaine Kings.
a. 1628. Preston, Effectual Faith (1631), 47. Though the Law bee a sword, yet unlesse God take that sword into his hand [etc.].
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint., Rules & Lessons, xii. If thou giv’st words, Dash not with them thy friend, nor Heav’n;… some Syllables are Swords.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxiv. You are the leader of our expedition, the sword and buckler of Christendom.
1895. S. Wheeler, Ameer Abdur Rahman, 66. Sharpening the sword of intention, to speak Asiatically, but not knowing when it might be used.
3. transf. The use of the sword in warfare, massacre, etc.; hence, slaughter; warfare; military force or power; also, the military profession or class, the army.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. x. 34. Ne wene ʓe þæt ic come sybbe on eorþan to sendanne, ne com ic sybbe to sendanne ac swurd [Lindisf. suord].
1382. Wyclif, Rom. viii. 35. Who therfore schal departe vs from the charite of God? tribulacioun, or angwisch, or hungur, or nakidnesse, or persecucioun, or perel, or swerd?
c. 1410. Lanterne of Liȝt, viii. 45. Excesse of mete & drink sleep many moo þan doiþ þe swerid.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf., 1522. Alerycus, that rulyd the Gothyaunce by swerd.
1549. Compl. Scot., xv. 123. Thai recompens me vitht hungyr, and vitht the sourd.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Glocester, viii. Wasting the Countrey with swurde and with fyer.
1590. Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., IV. i. See now ye slaues, my children stoops your pride And leads your glories sheep-like to the sword.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 41. If I were yong againe, the sword should end it.
1649. Milton, Eikon., x. 96. It hath bin oft anough told him, that he hath no more autority over the sword then over the law.
1682. Dryden, Medal, 306. The Cut-throat Sword and clamorous Gown shall jar.
1724. Ramsay, Vision, xxiii. I still support my precedens Abune them all for sword and sens.
1766. Gray, Kingsgate, 21. Purg’d by the sword, and purified by fire.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., i. These hireling combatants sold their swords for a time to the best bidder.
1832. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), I. vi. 245. This influential portion [sc. the sovereign’s counsellors] was formed by the nobility of the sword, the … clergy, and the members of the parliaments.
1839. Lytton, Richelieu, II. ii. The pen is mightier than the sword.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 141. Anomalies and abuses, which were in strict conformity with the law, and which had been destroyed by the sword. Ibid., vi. II. 16. Some of the exiles offered their swords to William of Orange.
b. To put († do) to the sword, to kill or slaughter with the sword.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 47. Agode Erle of Warwik was don to þe suerd.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. iv. 164. To take His brother … and put him to the sword.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 35. The Turkes … put to sword all that came in their way.
1759. Hume, Hist. Eng. Ho. Tudor, Edw. VI., ii. I. 323. De Thermes … took the fortress of Broughty, and put the garrison to the sword.
1891. Hall Caine, Scapegoat, xvii. A warrant to put every man, woman, and child to the sword.
4. As the instrument or symbol of penal justice; hence, the authority of a ruler or magistrate to punish offenders; more generally, power of government, executive power, authority, jurisdiction; also, the office of an executive governor or magistrate.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xiii. 4. Sothli if thou doist yuel thing, drede thou; for not withoute cause he berith the swerd.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Rom., Prol. In the .xiij. he teacheth to honour the worldly and temporall swearde.
1549. Latimer, 1st Serm. def. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 23. Let ye preacher teach, improue, amende, an[d] instructe in rightwesnes, wyth the spyrytuall swearde.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, Wks. 1904, I. 179. Burgomasters and Gentlemen beare all the swaye of both swords, spiritual and temporall.
a. 1628. Daborne, Poor-man’s Comf., V. (1655), H 2. You have felloniously usurpt The sword of Government.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., I. i. (1821), 4. Upon the taking of our Sword, and chiefe charge of that our Realme of Ireland, as our Deputie.
1634. E. Reynolds, Shieldes of Earth (1636), 19. Jurisdiction coercitive, or the power of the Sword.
1650. Hobbes, De Corp. Pol., 66. This Power Coercive, or (as men use to call it) the Sword of Justice. Ibid. (1651), Leviath., II. xvii. 85. Covenants, without the Sword, are but Words.
1673. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 60. A very great part of this ground … has ever … belong’d to ye Sword. Ibid. (1677), II. 124. I should with some regret have parted with ye sword into ye hands of my Lord Conway.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., II. 29. Justice to merit does weak aid afford; She trusts her Ballance, and neglects her Sword.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. i. 8. The magistrate … who bears the sword of justice by the consent of the whole community.
1915. Eng. Hist. Rev., April, 219. Richemont … had been offered the sword of constable of France.
5. A material object resembling a sword. a. One of various mechanical devices in the form of a flat wooden blade, bar, or rod.
1530. Palsgr., 278/2. Sworde for a flaxe wyfe, guinche.
1667. in Pettus, Fodinæ Reg. (1670), 35. Five Pair of large Smelting Bellows with Beams, Frames, Swords.
1766. Compl. Farmer, s.v. Flax, The sword, or upright timber-rod between the treadle and the treadle crank.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 835/2. The workman closes it [sc. the woof] by one or two strokes of the lay or batten, of which WB, WB are called the swords.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 32. Every other part is … forced close home to the bolt with a wooden sword.
1863. J. Watson, Art of Weaving, 149. Swords are these parts of the loom that the lay is fixed to.
1883. Man. Seamanship for Boys, 182. A piece of wood made in the shape of a knife, called a sword, is … inserted between the alternate parts of the warp.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 66. Sword, a red connecting a pump bucket with the foot rod.
Mod. Advt. A strong useful Cart, fitted with Wing Boards and Tipping Sword.
b. The sharp projecting jaw-bone of the swordfish.
1641. Symonds, Serm. bef. Ho. Comm., D iv. They say there is a fish that hath a sword but no heart.
1681. Grew, Musæum, I. V. i. 87. The Sword grows in a level, not from the upper but the under Jaw.
1860. Wraxall, Life in Sea, v. 108. The keel of an East Indiaman was once bored by a twenty-foot Xyphias so violently, that the sword went in up to the roots.
c. A sword-like ray or flash of light.
1866. B. Taylor, Poems, Hymn to Air. The Sun’s uplifted sword of flame.
1890. W. J. Gordon, Foundry, 93. While swords of vivid light are brandished to and fro on to the hurrying clouds.
6. attrib. and Comb. a. Simple attrib., as sword-blow, -edge, -exercise, -fight, frog [FROG3 1], -game, -handle, -hanger [HANGER sb.2 4 b], -hilt, -point, -scabbard, -sheath, -stroke, -sweep, -thrust, -tip, -wound, etc. b. Instrumental, as sword-armed, -girded, -girt adjs.; sword-hunter. c. Objective, as sword-maker, -making, -setter; similative, etc., as sword-like, -shaped adjs.
1640. J. Gower, Ovid’s Festiv., IV. 86. But e’re the evening doth the sights conclude, *Sword-arm’d Orion in the waves is stew’d.
1898. Rossetti, in Ruskin, etc. (1899), 28. The sword-armed angels.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxiii. Fire-arms were discharged and *sword-blows given for upwards of five minutes.
1809. Roland (title), The Amateur of Fencing; or a Treatise on the Art of *Sword-Defence.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 291. The third one simply smote by the *sword-edge All who dared doubt his darkly chequered tale.
1796. (title) Rules and Regulations for the *Sword Exercise of the Cavalry.
1627. Hakewill, Apol., IV. iv. § 8. 316. Some they set to fight with beasts, some to fight one with another. These they called Gladiatores swordplayers, & this spectacle, munus gladiatorium, a *sword-fight.
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 150. Where with single sword-fight they ended their quarrell, by dying both.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 96. Shee’s past a blush … That has renounc’d her sex, and, sleighting fears, Admires the sword-fights so.
1647. Hexham, A *sword-fighter, een swaerdt-vechter.
1868. Regul. & Ord. Army, ¶ 615. The waist-belt with the *Sword-frog supplied with the tools, is to be worn over the belt from which the tools are suspended.
1618. Bolton, Florus, III. xx. (1636), 239. To fight … about the funerall fire, as if it would cleere all passed disgrace, if of a sword player, hee become a giver of *sword-games.
1889. R. B. Anderson, trans. Rydberg’s Teut. Mythol., 216. The souls of warriors who had fallen in battle, and now imitated the sword-games they had played on earth.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 44. An armed knyght … *Suerd girded & lance in hand. Ibid., 152. Armed and *suerd girte.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Lucan, I. 664. Sword-girt Orions side glisters too bright.
1855. Bailey, Mystic, etc., 131. Some crowned and sword-girt conqueror.
1799. Herschel, in Phil. Trans., XC. 63. In clear nights … we may see a whitish patch in the *sword-handle of Perseus.
1851. Nichol, Archit. Heav., 14. The spot in the Sword-handle of Perseus.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Talabarte, *sword hangers.
1455. in Meyrick, Ant. Armour (1824), II. 144. A Scottysh *swerde hylte and pomell covered with sylver.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., V. v. 28. Hold thou my Sword Hilts, whilest I runne on it.
1706. Lond. Gaz., No. 4257/4. A Sword Hilt Maker.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 50. The hand, that slew till it could slay no more, Was glued to the sword-hilt with Indian gore.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 72. It was … not uncommon for the expiring knight to fix his eyes upon his sword hilt as a lively symbol of his faith.
1867. Baker (title), The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia, and the *Sword Hunters of the Hamran Arabs.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., xxxvi. Hereward swore awfully, and laid his hand on his sword-hilt.
1578. J. Jones, Preserv. Bodie & Soule, I. xl. 87. Launcelike, *swordlike.
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint., Stars, iv. A swordlike gleame Kept man for sin First Out.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Evang., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 184. Maternal Pity pierc’d her through and through, Up to the hilt her Sword-like Sorrow flew.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 495. A stranger star, Swordlike in shape.
1592. Arden of Feversham, V. i. 69. He lyke a foole beares his *sword point halfe a yarde out of danger.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 519. Rather to try the Title by the sword point than by point of Law.
1657. J. Bentham, Two Treat., 27. They stand at sword point against sin and transgressions.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxix. His sword-point turned to the ground.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 340. Such Wood as they make Bandboxes or *Sword-Scabbards with.
1575–6. in Wodderspoon, Mem. Ipswich (1850), 174. Prynters, fyshemongers, *swordsetters.
1776. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., Explan. Terms 386. Ensiforme, *sword-shaped, double-edged, gradually lessening from the Base to the Point.
1832. Lindley, Intro. Bot., 382. Sword-shaped..., lorate, quite straight, with the point acute.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Sword-sheath, the scabbard or case for a sword.
1891. Conan Doyle, White Company, xx. In vain were sword-sheaths, apple branches, and belts linked together, thrown out to him by his companions.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., vi. [He] stood firm within *sword-stroke of his adversary.
1880. Swinburne, Stud. Shaks., 79. Swift alike of speech and sword-stroke.
1808. Scott, Marm., VI. xxv. With *sword-sway, and with lance’s thrust. Ibid. (1828), F. M. Perth, xxxiv. To get within the *sword-sweep of those opposed to them.
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, xxv. 243. Guy fairly staggered, as if he had received a *sword-thrust.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. vi. ‘I have found … only the weapons with which beauty is authorized to kill,’ says he, pointing to a wig with his *sword-tip.
1902. F. E. Hulme, Proverb Lore, 114. *Sword-wounds may be healed, word-wounds are beyond healing.
d. Special Combs.: sword-and-buckler a., armed with or using a sword and buckler; pertaining to or performed with sword and buckler; † fig. bragging, blustering (obs.); so sword-and-dagger a.; sword-arm, the arm with which the sword is wielded, the right arm; also rhetorically = military power or action, and fig.; sword-bayonet, a form of bayonet that may be used as a sword; sword-belt, a belt by which the sword in its scabbard is suspended; sword-bill, a South American humming-bird, Docimastes ensiferus, with a very long bill; sword-breaker, a device, as a dagger or buckler with a notch or hook, for breaking the blade of an adversary’s sword; sword-cane, a hollow cane or walking-stick containing a steel blade which may be drawn or shot out and used as a sword; sword-case, a case to hold a sword; in mod. use, a receptacle at the back of a carriage for swords, sticks or other articles; sword-craft, the art of using, or skill in the use of, the sword; military power; sword-cut, (a) a cutting stroke or blow dealt with the edge of a sword; (b) a wound or scar produced by such a stroke; sword-cutler, a cutler who makes sword-blades or swords; so sword-cutlery; † sword dagger, ? a heavy dagger; sword-dance [cf. MLG. swertdans, G. schwertertanz, etc.], a dance in which the performers go through some evolutions with swords, or in which a person dances among naked swords laid on the ground; also fig.; so sword-dancer, -dancing; sword dollar, name for a Scottish silver coin of James VI., of the value of 30 shillings Scotch (= 2s. 6d. English), with the figure of a sword on the reverse; † sword-fencer, a gladiator; sword-flighted a., said of a bird having some of the wing-feathers contrasted in color with the rest, suggesting a sword carried at the side; † sword-girdle = sword-belt; sword-hand, the hand with which the sword is wielded, the right hand; sword-knot, a ribbon or tassel tied to the hilt of a sword (originating from the thong or lace with which the hilt was fastened to the wrist, but later used chiefly as a mere ornament or badge); sword-law, government by the power of the sword, or by military force; martial law; sword-leaved a., having sword-shaped or ensiform leaves; sword-mat Naut., a piece of matting used to protect parts of the rigging, etc., so called from the wooden ‘sword’ with which the fabric is beaten close in weaving; so sword-matting; † sword-minded a., of cruel or sanguinary disposition, bloody-minded; sword-proof a., proof against the sword; capable of resisting the stroke of a sword; sword-salve, salve applied to a sword, and supposed to cure the wound inflicted by it (cf. weapon-salve); sword-service, military service rendered as a due to the overlord; sword-side [cf. OFris. swerdsîda, MLG. swerdhalve, -sîde, G. schwertseite, etc.], the male line in descent (= spear-síde, SPEAR sb.1 10); sword-smith, a smith who makes swords, a sword-cutler; sword-stand = sword-case; sword-star, poetic name for a comet supposed to resemble a sword; sword-stick = sword-cane; sword-swallower, one who entertains for money by swallowing or pretending to swallow swords; so sword-swallowing; sword-tail, an animal of the group Xiphosura, comprising only the genus Limulus; a king-crab; so sword-tailed a., having a sword-like tail; sword-taker, one who ‘takes the sword’ (Matt. xxvi. 52) without authority or right, a lawless killer; sword-tash, used by Carlyle for sabre-tash, SABRETACHE; sword-whale, the grampus, also called SWORDFISH; † sword-wrack, destruction by the sword. See also SWORD-BEARER, -BLADE, etc.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 230. That same *Sword and Buckler Prince of Wales.
1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.), 61. I see by this dearth of good swords that dearth of swoord and buckler fight begins to grow out:… a man, a tall man, and a good sword and buckler man, will be spitted like a cat or a conney. Ibid., 98. I … put on my fellow Dickes sword and buckler voyce and his swounds and sbloud words.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 47. As he lived in a ruffling time, so he loved sword and buckler men.
1646. G. Daniel, Essay, 23, Wks. (Grosart), I. 80. Nor would I … engage My selfe in Controversie to the Age, With Sword and Buckler Langvage.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxviii. Our two sword-and-buckler men gave up their contest with as much indifference as they had entered into it.
1860. Fairholt, Costume (ed. 2), 228. Sword-and-buckler play formed the usual relaxation of the London apprentices on ordinary occasions [temp. Hen. VIII.].
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xii. Any of these *sword-and-dagger men.
1692. Sir W. Hope, Fencing-Master (ed. 2), 159. Stand not to an Ordinary Guard, for then he would Disable your *sword Arm.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 95. I feel a little smart in my sword-arm.
1833. Regul. & Instr. Cavalry, I. 133. The ‘Guard’ is continued by moving the sword-arm … to the right.
1838. Lytton, Leila, II. i. Methinks our best wisdom lies in the sword-arm.
1895. Sir E. Wood, Cavalry in Waterloo Campaign, iv. 107. His sword-arm being so hacked by sabres as to be practically severed.
1916. Buckle, Life Disraeli, IV. xiii. 480. Gathorne Hardy, who succeeded to Cairns’s place as his ‘sword-arm’ when the fight was fierce in the House of Commons.
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 94. Rifle, Rammer, and *Sword Bayonet.
1521. Extr. Burgh Rec. Stirling (1887), 13. Item, ane swourd, buklar and *swourd belt, vj s.
1534. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 184. Ane swerd belt of fresit ledder.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1783), III. 88. Hunger compelled them … lo gnaw the leather of their saddles and sword-belts.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xiii. He wore a smart hanger and a pair of pistols in a sullied sword-belt.
1861. W. F. Collier, Hist. Eng. Lit., 177. His broad sword-belt, supporting a Spanish rapier.
1861. Gould, Monogr. Trochilidæ, IV. Pl. 233. *Sword-bill.
1830. Meyrick & Skelton, Illustr. Ant. Arms, II. Plate 100. A *sword breaker…. The teeth give way in order to receive a blade struck against them, and close over it so that by a slight motion of the wrist it can be broken.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. v. Snatch your … *sword-canes, secret arms, and tickets of entry.
1576–7. Registers. S. Mary Woolnoth (1886), p. xxiv. To the joyner for mendyng the *sworde case for the Lorde Maior to sett up in the church against the pewe.
1699. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 511. A sword case to hould the King’s sword.
1794. W. Felton, Carriages (1801), I. 15. The sword-case, so called from its length and convenience for carrying swords or sticks,… is sometimes called a boodge.
1852. Osborne, in Times, 3 Nov. A neat London-built brougham, with his lordship and the chaplain inside, the episcopal mace in the sword case.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., Introd. vi. (1866), 17. They learn to tremble as little at priest-craft as at *sword-craft.
1897. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ In Kedar’s Tents, xxv. (heading) Swordcraft.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxv. To have as many *sword-cuts made, and pistols flashed at me, as [etc.].
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 238. Seam’d with an ancient swordcut on the cheek.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1363/4. Mr. Job Jeffs, *Sword Cutler under the Greyhound Tavern in the Strand.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1725), I. 80. Without being themselves guilty of, or accessary to them, any otherwise than by way of Trade, as a Druggist may be to Poysoning, or a Sword-Cutler to Blood-shed.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 74. In France a sword-cutler is still called fourbisseur.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. V. vi. Do not … iron stanchions [transmute themselves] into the white-weapon…, by *sword-cutlery?
1567. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 109. A very good yew bow and … a *sword dagger.
1604. Marston, Malcontent, I. iii. B 2 b. Heres a Knight … shall … Doe the *sword daunce with any Morris-dauncer in Christendome.
1712. N. Blundell, Diary (1895), 103. I made a Sword Dance against my Marlpit is flower’d.
1814. Scott, Diary, 7 Aug., in Lockhart. The sword-dance, now almost lost, but still practised in the Island of Papa.
1868. Q. Victoria, Life Highl., 14. The piper played, and one of the highlanders danced the Sword dance.
1884. Whittier, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 179/1. The midnight sword-dance of the northern sky.
1648. Hexham, II. Een sweerut-dansser, a *Sword-dauncer.
1777. Brand, Pop. Antiq., 175. The Fool Plough goes about, a Pageant that consists of a Number of Sword Dancers, dragging a Plough, with Music.
1811. Gentl. Mag., LXXXI. I. 423/2. In the North Riding of Yorkshire…. On the feast of St. Stephen … 6 youths (called sword-dancers, from their dancing with swords) … begin to travel from village to village, performing a rude dance, called the sword dance.
1897. Q. Rev., Oct., 489. The sword-dancers from Papa.
1648. Hexham, I. Een sweerdt-dans, a *Sword-dauncing with the point upon the palme of ones hands, or teeth.
1712. N. Blundell, Diary (1895), 105. We … had Sword Dansing and a Merry-Night in ye Hall and in ye Barne.
1847. Halliwell, s.v., There is a very singular custom, called sword-dancing, prevalent in many parts of Northumberland, and in the county of Durham, during the Christmas holidays.
1825. Jamieson, James Ryall, the name of the silver coin of James VI. of Scotland, vulgarly called the *Sword Dollar.
1600. Holland, Livy, XVI. Argt. 390. Combates of *swordfensors at the sharpe to the utterance.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 355. In the single Combats of Sword-Fencers (called Gladiatores).
1868. Darwin, Anim. & Pl., xxvi. II. 349. Pouters properly have white primary wing-feathers, but not rarely, a *‘sword-flighted’ bird, that is, one with the few first primaries dark-coloured, appears.
c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 165. Ta renge, thi *swerd-girdel.
1523. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 43. It’ for ij swerde gyrduls.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apoc., 22. A swoordgirdle decked with golde [Rev. i. 13] is a souldiorlyke furniture.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXIII. xii. II. 483. Their sword girdles … gingle againe with thin plates of silver.
1647. Hexham, I. A sword-girdle, een swaerdt-riem.
1531. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. (1905), VI. 21. To be scalbartis and to bynd *swerd handis to the King, ane alne and half quartar veluett.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 145. Wounding him with a main blow on the elbow of the sword hand.
1705. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., III. Pain, 26. ’Tis like a Wound in the Sword Hand; the Man is disabled in that which should defend him.
1881. Tennyson, Charge Heavy Brigade, iv. They rode, or they stood at bay—Struck with the sword-hand and slew.
1694. N. H., Ladies Dict., 407/1 (bis) Your Spruce Crevat-strings, *Swords-knots, and the rest of your Finical Dress.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, I. 101. Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., All officers belonging to the British army are directed to wear sword-knots of a peculiar colour and make.
1881. Kipling, Departm. Ditties, etc. (1899), 68. One sword-knot stolen from the camp.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 672. So violence Proceeded, and Oppression, and *Sword-Law.
1805. James, Milit. Dict. (ed. 2), Sword-law, When a thing is enforced, without a due regard being paid to established rules and regulations, it is said to be carried by sword-law, or by the will of the strongest.
1837. Browning, Strafford, IV. i. Who bade him break the Parliament, Find some pretext for setting up sword-law!
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 368. Mr. Gawler’s elucidations of the Ensatæ, *Sword-leaved plants.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 32. What is the use of a *sword mat? To keep the chafes off the lanyards of lower rigging, backstays, &c. … Sword mats are usually made with nettle stuff.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 126. The furling gaskets … are made of *sword matting.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xvi. (1632), 356. Those men *sword-minded can death entertaine.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., I. ii. Vnlesse his brest be *sword proofe he shall die.
a. 1625[?]. Webster, Appius & Virginia, V. iii. My skin is not sword-proof.
1821. Praed, Gog, I. Poems 1865, I. 96. Sword-proof thenceforth from top to toe.
1647. Trapp, Comm. 1 Pet. ii. 24. We can hardly believe the power of *sword-salve.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 182. The [French] King hath nothing of his Noblesse, but *Sword-service.
1892. Cochran-Patrick, Mediæval Scot., i. 6. Strangers in blood to the tribe often joined a sept, and received a portion from the chief, giving in return their sword-service and customary dues.
1854. R. G. Latham, Native Races Russian Emp., 189. Sarmatian (as a Scandinavian would say) on the *sword-side.
a. 1861. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., II. iii. (1864), III. 173. He argued, that he and Duke Robert were of equal rank, by reason of their consanguinity, Sword-side and Spindle-side counterchanged.
1872. Cutts, Scenes & Char. Mid. Ages, 320. Some *swordsmiths chanted magical verses as they welded them.
1894. Archaeologia, LIV. 45. Of the churches in the City to-day, thirty have one *sword-stand each.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 520. Once more the blazing *swordstar shewed in Heaven.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Sword-stick, a walking-cane concealing a sharp, rapier-like weapon.
1906. C. N. & A. M. Williamson, Car of Destiny, xxxviii. The old man had come out of the house with a Toledo sword-stick.
1816. N. Y. Evening Post, 28 March, 2/3. Comparing our inimitable actors and fire eaters, with the Ouiels, the Kembles, and the Indian *sword swallower of Great Britain.
1827. Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 1196. He was assisted by a wretched looking female, who was a *sword-swallower.
1901. W. R. H. Trowbridge, Lett. her Mother to Eliz., xxxi. 153. The sword-swallower did some amazing things, and smacked his lips, as if the swords tasted nice.
1873. Routledge’s Yng. Gentl. Mag., Feb., 137/2. What he told me about his *sword swallowing was even more curious.
1858. Baird, Cycl. Nat. Sci., Xiphosura,… *Sword-tails.
1660. *Swordtaker [see SWORD-BEARER d].
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., VIII. ii. (1872), III. 9. He wears his sword, but has no *sword-tash (porte-épée).
1860. Wraxall, Life in Sea, i. 16. The Grampus, or *Sword-whale … attains a length of twenty-five feet.
1646. G. H. Hils, trans. Casimire’s Odes, 21. Forbeare cruell men to multiply With fire, *sword-wrack, your single destiny.
e. In names of plants having sword-shaped leaves or other parts, as sword aloe (see quot.); sword-bean, the genus Entada, and Canavalia gladiata, from their large flat pods; sword-fern, name for several ferns with long narrow fronds, as the genus Xiphopteris, Nephrolepis exaltata and other species, and Grammitis australis; sword-flag, the yellow water-flag, Iris Pseudacorus; sword-flax, a name for the New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax; sword-lily [Cf. Du. zwaardlelie, G. schwertlilie, etc.], the genus Gladiolus; in quot. 1845 applied to some water plant; sword-rush, -sedge, an Australian sedge, Lepidosperma gladiatum; sword-weed, a name for Cassia occidentalis, from its sword-shaped pods. See also SWORD-GRASS.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Aloe, Africana caulesceus, foliis minus glaucis caulem amplectentibus, floribus rubris. The *Sword Aloe.
1883. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Suppl., *Sword Bean.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Plants, Xiphopteris. *Sword-Fern.
1884. Jefferies, Life of Fields, 56. You must push through the reed grass to find the *sword-flags.
1871. R. H. Hutton, Ess., I. 61. The little clover competes successfully even with the phormium tenax, the *sword-flax.
1786. Abercrombie, Arr., in Gard. Assist., 73. Gladiolus, *sword-lily, or corn-flag.
1845. Browning, Flight of Duchess, xiii. Where the bold sword-lily cuts the clear waters.
1875. Melbourne Spectator, 21 Aug., 190/1. The wrapping-paper, manufactured from the *Sword-rush growing at Portland.
1877. Von Mueller, Bot. Teach. 124 (Morris). Lepidosperma gladiatum, the great *Sword-sedge of our coasts.
