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swordmore about sword

sword

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sword  \Sword\,  n.  [OE.  swerd,  AS  sweord;  akin  to  OFries  swerd, 
  swird,  D.  zwaard  OS  swerd,  OHG.  swert,  G.  schwert  Icel. 
  sver?,  Sw  sv["a]rd,  Dan.  sv[ae]rd;  of  uncertain  origin.] 
  1.  An  offensive  weapon,  having  a  long  and  usually 
  sharp?pointed  blade  with  a  cutting  edge  or  edges.  It  is 
  the  general  term,  including  the  small  sword,  rapier, 
  saber,  scimiter,  and  many  other  varieties. 
 
  2.  Hence  the  emblem  of  judicial  vengeance  or  punishment,  or 
  of  authority  and  power. 
 
  He  [the  ruler]  beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain.  --Rom. 
  xiii.  4. 
 
  She  quits  the  balance,  and  resigns  the  sword. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  3.  Destruction  by  the  sword,  or  in  battle;  war;  dissension. 
 
  I  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a  sword.  --Matt.  x. 
  34. 
 
  4.  The  military  power  of  a  country. 
 
  He  hath  no  more  authority  over  the  sword  than  over 
  the  law.  --Milton. 
 
  5.  (Weaving)  One  of  the  end  bars  by  which  the  lay  of  a  hand 
  loom  is  suspended. 
 
  {Sword  arm},  the  right  arm. 
 
  {Sword  bayonet},  a  bayonet  shaped  somewhat  like  a  sword,  and 
  which  can  be  used  as  a  sword. 
 
  {Sword  bearer},  one  who  carries  his  master's  sword;  an 
  officer  in  London  who  carries  a  sword  before  the  lord 
  mayor  when  he  goes  abroad. 
 
  {Sword  belt},  a  belt  by  which  a  sword  is  suspended,  and  borne 
  at  the  side 
 
  {Sword  blade},  the  blade,  or  cutting  part  of  a  sword. 
 
  {Sword  cane},  a  cane  which  conceals  the  blade  of  a  sword  or 
  dagger,  as  in  a  sheath. 
 
  {Sword  dance}. 
  a  A  dance  in  which  swords  are  brandished  and  clashed 
  together  by  the  male  dancers.  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
  b  A  dance  performed  over  swords  laid  on  the  ground,  but 
  without  touching  them 
 
  {Sword  fight},  fencing;  a  combat  or  trial  of  skill  with 
  swords;  swordplay. 
 
  {Sword  grass}.  (Bot.)  See  {Gladen}. 
 
  {Sword  knot},  a  ribbon  tied  to  the  hilt  of  a  sword. 
 
  {Sword  law},  government  by  the  sword,  or  by  force;  violence. 
  --Milton. 
 
  {Sword  lily}.  (Bot.)  See  {Gladiolus}. 
 
  {Sword  mat}  (Naut.),  a  mat  closely  woven  of  yarns;  --  so 
  called  from  a  wooden  implement  used  in  its  manufacture. 
 
  {Sword  shrimp}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  European  shrimp  ({Pasiph[ae]a 
  sivado})  having  a  very  thin,  compressed  body. 
 
  {Sword  stick},  a  sword  cane. 
 
  {To  measure  swords  with  one}.  See  under  {Measure},  v.  t. 
 
  {To  put  to  the  sword}.  See  under  {Put}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sword 
  n  :  a  cutting  or  thrusting  weapon  with  a  long  blade  [syn:  {blade}, 
  {brand},  {steel}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Sword 
  of  the  Hebrew  was  pointed,  sometimes  two-edged,  was  worn  in  a 
  sheath,  and  suspended  from  the  girdle  (Ex.  32:27;  1  Sam.  31:4;  1 
  Chr.  21:27;  Ps  149:6:  Prov.  5:4;  Ezek.  16:40;  21:3-5). 
 
  It  is  a  symbol  of  divine  chastisement  (Deut.  32:25;  Ps  7:12; 
  78:62),  and  of  a  slanderous  tongue  (Ps.  57:4;  64:3;  Prov. 
  12:18).  The  word  of  God  is  likened  also  to  a  sword  (Heb.  4:12; 
  Eph.  6:17;  Rev.  1:16).  Gideon's  watchword  was  "The  sword  of  the 
  Lord"  (Judg.  7:20).




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