different between rapier vs broadsword

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French rapiere, from Middle French (espee) rapiere, from Old French rapiere, raspiere, from Spanish raspadera (“poker; raker; scraper”), from Spanish raspar (“to scrape”), of Germanic origin. More at rasp.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??e?p???(?)/

Noun

rapier (plural rapiers)

1. A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless).
   • , act IV scene 1

     […] In his lawless fit,

     Behind the arras hearing something stir,

     Whips out his rapier, cries ‘A rat, a rat!’

     And in this brainish apprehension kills

     The unseen good old man.

Translations

Adjective

rapier (comparative more rapier, superlative most rapier)

1. Extremely sharp.
2. Cutting; employing keen wit.

   John is very quick on his feet during interviews by using his rapier responses.

Anagrams

• pairer, repair

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French (espee) rapiere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ra??pi?r/
• Hyphenation: ra?pier
• Rhymes: -i?r

Noun

rapier n (plural rapieren, diminutive rapiertje n)

1. rapier

Coordinate terms

• degen

English

Alternative forms

• broad sword

Etymology

From broad +? sword.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b???d.s??d/

Noun

broadsword (plural broadswords)

1. (historical) A type of early modern sword that has a broad double-edged blade for cutting (as opposed to the more slender thrust-oriented rapier) and a basket hilt.
2. A person armed with such a sword.
3. (colloquial, often fantasy) Synonym of longsword

Translations

See also

• falchion