sword

Etymology

From Middle English sword, swerd, from Old English sweord (“sword”), from Proto-West Germanic *swerd, from Proto-Germanic *swerdą (“sword”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂w- (“sharp”). Cognate with Scots swuird, swerd, sword (“sword”), North Frisian swird (“sword”), West Frisian swurd (“sword”), Dutch zwaard (“sword”), Low German Sweerd, Schwert (“sword”), German Schwert (“sword”), Danish sværd, Norwegian sverd, Swedish svärd (“sword”), Icelandic sverð (“sword”), Old East Slavic свьрдьлъ (svĭrdĭlŭ, “drill”).

noun

1. (weaponry) A long bladed weapon with a grip and typically a pommel and cross guard (together forming a hilt), which is designed to cut, stab, slash and/or hack.
   Malicious tunges, though they have no bones, c. 1515–1516, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c., published 1568
   Some swords were also made solely to thrust, and some only to cut; others were equally adapted for both. 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 49
2. (tarot) A suit in the minor arcana in tarot.
3. (tarot) A card of this suit.
4. (weaving) One of the end bars by which the lay of a hand loom is suspended.

verb

1. To stab or cut with a sword