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Synonyms

scimitar

American  
[sim-i-ter] / ˈsɪm ɪ tər /
Or scimiter,

noun

  1. a curved, single-edged sword of Asian, especially Eastern origin.


scimitar British  
/ ˈsɪmɪtə /

noun

  1. an oriental sword with a curved blade broadening towards the point

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of scimitar

1540–50; < Italian scimitarra, ultimately < Persian

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Explanation

A scimitar is a short, curved sword that comes from the Middle East. It was commonly used back in the days of horse warfare. A scimitar is distinctive-looking sword, with its short, curved blade. It shows up a lot as a symbol in various Arab cultures, including on the Saudi Arabian flag. The origin of the word scimitar isn't certain, though it may come from shafsher, "lion's claw" in Persian, which describes the scimitar's curved shape.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During this time, he helped design the Reliant Scimitar car, the Reliant Bond Bug - a two-seater, three-wheeled sports car that was launched at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire in 1970 - and Leyland lorry cabs.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2023

“To me, it’s like art,” Hissink said of the Scimitar chair she commissioned using technical sketches from the original Danish designers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2017

The Scimitar winglets, however, add two tips to each wing, one that turns up like a shark's dorsal fin and another that angles down like a pectoral fin.

From Chicago Tribune • Jul. 22, 2013

Papers would get a warning from the company, Scimitar Films, he ran with John Fraser: back at school, Winner had paid Fraser two shillings a week to clean his room and make his bed.

From The Guardian • Jan. 21, 2013

It read: Scimitar of Kampl, destroyed in the Battle of the Labyrinth.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan