claymore

[kley-mawr, -mohr]

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.

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. 2018

Related Words for claymore

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

Examples from the Web for claymore

Historical Examples of claymore

Nor less emphatic is his railing at the plaid and blaspheming at the claymore.
The Book-Hunter
John Hill Burton
I thought the weather guaranteed me a season's rest, but here's the claymore again!
John Splendid
Neil Munro
He then drew his claymore, and cut the cords which bound the intended victim.
Memoirs of the Jacobites of 1715 and 1745
Mrs. Thomson
Donald Roy leaped to his feet, waved his sword and shouted “Claymore!”
A Daughter of Raasay
William MacLeod Raine
The former was laid dead on the ground by a stroke from a claymore.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.
Thomas Babington Macaulay

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

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.