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definitions

claymore

[kley-mawr, -mohr]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR claymore ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a two-handed sword with a double-edged blade, used by Scottish Highlanders in the 16th century.
a Scottish broadsword with a basket hilt.

RELATED WORDS

blade, dagger, saber, brand, foil, cutlass, rapier, hanger, sabre, broadsword, kris, epee, creese, falchion, backsword, scimitar, toledo, dirk, bilbo, curtana

Origin of claymore

First recorded in 1765–75, claymore is from the Scots Gaelic word claidheamh mòr great sword
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for claymore

Historical Examples of claymore

  • As gently as possible she broke the news to Mrs. Weems that she might make another trip to Claymore.

  • In an hour—if the wind went swingin' round—the Royal Bloodhound an' the Claymore would be floatin' free.

  • They are all I can call my own, except my plaid and my claymore.

    A Legend of Montrose

    Sir Walter Scott

  • It was well on toward sunset when Claymore reached the mountain village where Celia was staying with a party of friends.

  • I have seen it many times since; I have seen it at Claymore Tavern.

    Dark Hollow

    Anna Katherine Green

British Dictionary definitions for claymore

claymore

noun

a large two-edged broadsword used formerly by Scottish Highlanders
a US type of antipersonnel mine

Word Origin for claymore

C18: from Gaelic claidheamh mōr great sword
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
Word Origin and History for claymore
n.

1749, "two-edged broadsword of ancient Scottish Highlanders," from Gaelic claidheamh mor "great sword," from claidheb "sword" (cf. Welsh cleddyf), possibly from PIE root *kel- "to strike" (see holt) + mor "great" (cf. Welsh mawr; see more). An antiquarian word made familiar again by Scott's novels; modern military application to pellet-scattering anti-personnel mine is first attested 1962.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper