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yataghan

American  
[yat-uh-gan, -guhn, yah-tah-gahn] / ˈjæt əˌgæn, -gən, ˌjɑ tɑˈgɑn /
Also ataghan or yatagan

noun

  1. a Turkish saber having a doubly curved blade, concave toward the hilt, and a hilt with a prominent pommel and no guard.


yataghan British  
/ ˈjætəɡən /

noun

  1. a Turkish sword with a curved single-edged blade

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of yataghan

First recorded in 1810–20, yataghan is from the Turkish word yatağan

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:

Upon Franklin Roosevelt, the net effect was comparable to that of having his own party toss a yataghan 15 blocks up Pennsylvania Avenue and put it squarely in between his shoulder blades.

From Time Magazine Archive

Yataghans at 15 Blocks On Franklin Roosevelt's desk, when reporters trooped into his office one day last week, lay a wicked-looking gold-handled seven-inch knife�a "yataghan," presented to him by the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.

From Time Magazine Archive

Only concrete indication of how the President felt with Congress' yataghan in his back last week was a note to Majority Leader Rayburn.

From Time Magazine Archive

Swing the yataghan, thus, in a half-circle—easily, gracefully, as you would the bow of a violin.

From Told by the Death's Head A Romantic Tale by J?kai, M?r

Their uniform is magnificent, consisting of a blue frockcoat and pantaloons covered with silver lace, a Grecian helmet, and a great variety of splendid arms, the yataghan alone costing a thousand rubles.

From Incidents of Travel in Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland, 7th ed. Vol. 2 of 2 by Stephens, John Lloyd

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