hilt
Americannoun
-
the handle of a sword or dagger.
-
the handle of any weapon or tool.
verb (used with object)
idioms
noun
-
the handle or shaft of a sword, dagger, etc
-
to the full
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hilt
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English hilt(e); cognate with Middle Dutch hilt(e), Old Norse hjalt, Old High German helza “handle of a sword”
Explanation
A hilt is a knife, sword, or dagger's handle. When you're learning to sword fight for your role in a Shakespeare drama, the first thing you'll learn is to hold onto the hilt. The hilt of a sword is sometimes topped by a "pommel," an enlarged section of the handle, and protected by a "guard," which keeps your hand safe from your opponent's blade. The word hilt can also mean "totally" in the colloquial phrase "up to the hilt," as in: "That country's military is armed up to the hilt," or "They own lots of homes, but they're mortgaged up to the hilt."
Vocabulary lists containing hilt
"The Witch Boy" by Molly Knox Ostertag
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The Birchbark House
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A stunning jeweled dagger hilt and scabbard from Jahangir’s reign incorporate more than 2,000 diamonds, rubies and emeralds set in an intricate pattern in gold.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
A harpoon gun from "Jaws," a jacket worn by "The Terminator," and a "Star Wars" lightsaber hilt and C-3PO head are among the eye-catching items to be sold at auction next month.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
Just six months ago England coach Brendon McCullum backed Jos Buttler to the hilt despite questions over his captain's future.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2025
Still, he was a perfect match for Yang, who played Santos to the hilt in various appearances on Weekend Update and in opening sketches.
From New York Times ● May 20, 2024
Brother Lekan hands me a short wooden shaft that, to the untrained eye, might look like a sword hilt missing its blade.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Walrus ivory was one of the most prized commodities in medieval times, valued across Europe and the Islamic world for its use in sword hilts, gaming pieces, and sacramental objects.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 22, 2022
Perhaps a line of parasols designed for Jonas Hanway types, with canopies of dashing plaid and polished wooden hilts?
From Slate
Ready Defenders A group of youths stand with their hands on the hilts of their swords, ready to fight if necessary.
From National Geographic
To show for the first time the full extent of Mannerist accomplishment, art objects ranging from bronze sculpture and oil paintings to glassware, furniture and sword hilts have been assembled from 155 museums and collectors.
From Time Magazine Archive
They looked sideways at one another, hands clenching the hilts of their swords.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
