saber

American  

[sey-ber] / ˈseɪ bər /

especially British, sabre

noun

1. a heavy, one-edged sword, usually slightly curved, used especially by cavalry.

2. a soldier armed with such a sword.

3. Fencing.

   1. a sword having two cutting edges and a blunt point.

   2. the art or sport of fencing with the saber, with the target being limited to the head, trunk, and arms, and hits being made with the front edge and the upper part of the back edge of the sword and by thrusts.

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verb (used with object)

1. to strike, wound, or kill with a saber.

saber British  

/ ˈseɪbə /

noun

1. the US spelling of sabre

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Other Word Forms

• saberlike adjective
• unsabered adjective

Etymology

Origin of saber

First recorded in 1670–80; from French sabre, sable, from German Sabel (now Säbel ), earlier sewel, schebel, from Polish szabla; compare Czech šavle, Serbo-Croatian sȁblja, Russian sáblya “sword, saber,” perhaps all ultimately from Hungarian szablya, though derivation and transmission uncertain

Example Sentences

For years, historians followed the bomb’s echoes through the Cold War: Bikini Atoll and nuclear bunkers, Strangelove and SALT, détente and Defcon, Star Wars and saber rattling, to hit a few low points.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet at other times he has rattled the nuclear saber.

From Barron's

The Eisenhower library has several swords from the president in its collection, including a saber and a sword of honour featured in a current exhibit.

From BBC

The Army-Notre Dame rivalry writes its own storylines: the pope’s boys against the Doughboys, religion and the military, the cross versus the saber.

From Los Angeles Times

It doesn’t matter that Dershwitz is the reigning world champion in men’s saber and a medal favorite at the 2024 Paris Games.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sword