scimitar
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of scimitar
1540–50; < Italian scimitarra, ultimately < Persian
Compare meaning
How does scimitar compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A scimitar is a short, curved sword that comes from the Middle East. It was commonly used back in the days of horse warfare. A scimitar is distinctive-looking sword, with its short, curved blade. It shows up a lot as a symbol in various Arab cultures, including on the Saudi Arabian flag. The origin of the word scimitar isn't certain, though it may come from shafsher, "lion's claw" in Persian, which describes the scimitar's curved shape.
Vocabulary lists containing scimitar
Their Eyes Were Watching God
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The Alchemist
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"The Pit and the Pendulum," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
One of the most remarkable features of S. mirabilis is its enormous, scimitar shaped crest.
From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026
Riot gear meets scimitar in the streets of Verona, where the civil war between the Montagues and the Capulets has technically ended but hostilities persist in a musical no man’s land.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2022
The haul included some extinct animals, such as the scimitar oryx, and endangered species like lions, cheetahs and the Bengal tiger.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2022
And the sword, well, I used to have a scimitar from Dark Souls 3 but have replaced it with the kusabimaru from Sekiro.
From The Verge • Mar. 8, 2022
Every hero from The Arabian Nights carried a scimitar.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
