guisarme

Or gi·sarme

[gi-zahrm]

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of guisarme¹

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 scene of indescribable confusion ensued; the darkness of the hall was becoming every moment more profound--a number of the Hussites made their escape, and untied others; while still, through the midst of the crowd, Richard of Woodville slowly advanced towards the door, and knocking the guisarme out of the hand of one of the men who seemed most strongly bent on opposing his passage, he brought the point of his sword to his throat, exclaiming, "Back, or die!"

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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!"

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

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He had, too--and glad enough was he of it at that moment--the deadly guisarme, that old-fashioned weapon that combined a spear and scythe, and was used with horrible effect in the charges of the day.

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Ralph would go afoot as he went yesterday; but today he bore in his hand the ancient staff of war, the gold-written guisarme; and he went amongst the Shepherds, with whom were joined the feeble folk of Upmeads, men whom he had known of old and who knew him, and it was as if their hearts had caught fire from his high heart, and that whatever their past days had been to them, this day at least should be glorious.

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