guisarme

American  

[gi-zahrm] / gɪˈzɑrm /

Or gisarme

noun

1. a shafted weapon having as a head a curved, double-edged blade with a beak at the back.

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Etymology

Origin of guisarme

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French g(u)isarme, gisarne, possibly of Germanic origin; compare Old High German getīsarn, literally, “weeding iron,” equivalent to get(an) “to weed” ( German jäten ) + īsarn “iron”; iron

Example Sentences

A rush was instantly made towards Richard of Woodville; and one man, with a guisarme, thrust himself right in his way; but laughing loud, the young knight bared his long, heavy sword, and waved it over his head, grasping Ella by the hand, and exclaiming in English, "On, my men! on! open a way, there!"

From Project Gutenberg

He could no longer swing the trusty little axe which had done good service before; but there was the deadly guisarme at his side.

From Project Gutenberg

In about an hour all the folk within the castle began to set toward the ingle wherein lay Ralph and his fellows, and then all rose up, while the folk of the Shepherds took their places on the slopes of the earth walls, but on the top hard by the fire, which was still burning, stood up an old hoar man with a beard exceeding long; he had a sallet on his head, and held a guisarme in his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

So Ralph went up on the wall-top and took the Elder's hand, and took from him the ancient guisarme, which was inlaid with gold letters of old time; and he swore in a loud voice to be a true brother of the Shepherd-folk, and raised the weapon aloft and shook it strongly, and all the Folk cried, "Hail our brother!" and the Champions shouted gladly withal, and great joy there was in that ingle of the ancient work.

From Project Gutenberg

Therewith were they all joined together, and Ursula gave the guisarme into Ralph's hand, and with his other hand he took hers, and the bar of the barrier was lifted and the gates thrown open, and they all streamed into the street, the champions coming last and towering over the footmen as they sat, big men on their big horses, as if they were very bodyguards of the God of War.

From Project Gutenberg