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

Derived Forms

• basket-hilted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of basket hilt

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

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

The claymore of modern times is a broadsword, double or single-edged, and provided with a basket hilt of form peculiar to Scotland, though the idea was probably derived from Spain.

From Notes and Queries, Number 213, November 26, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Bell, George

Mendoza lifted his sheathed sword and laid his right hand upon the cross-bar of the basket hilt.

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

A broad baldric of green silk hung from his shoulder across his breast, and supported at his side a long sword with an enormous basket hilt, through which somewhat coquettishly peeped a white lace handkerchief.

From The Crusade of the Excelsior by Harte, Bret

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)