basket hilt

American  

noun

1. the basketlike hilt of a sword, foil, etc., serving to cover and protect the hand.

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basket hilt British  

noun

1. a hilt fitted to a broadsword, with a generally padded basket-shaped guard to protect the hand

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Other Word Forms

• basket-hilted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of basket hilt

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

basket hilt

Jody stood overwhelmed by the thing in Gitano’s hand, a lean and lovely rapier with a golden basket hilt.

From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck

I have found them in my gloves, tied into the basket hilt of my sword--often they are brought to me like ordinary letters by a messenger who waits for an answer.

From In the Palace of the King A Love Story of Old Madrid by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

The usual weapon amongst the students is a long two-edged sword, with a basket hilt, round which the colours of the Chore are wound.

From The Student-Life of Germany by Howitt, William

A small collar of the finest lawn made its appearance above the doublet; and a black-sheathed “Andrèa Ferrara,” with basket hilt, dangling from his side, and calf-skin boots, completed his costume.

From Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume I (of 2) A full account of the colony and its inhabitants from the time of the Caribs to the present day by Anonymous

Whereupon she rose, donned her lord's buff coat and slung his basket hilt at her pretty side.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)