What would be a suitable term for a type of sword that has the
following characteristics?

- Generally British or Western European in style
- More or less medieval in period; more recent is okay, but not too
recent--preferably at least 500 years old
- Long, broad, curved blade
- Of a type that would be used in battle

Note:  It does not have to ever have existed.  It only has to be plausible.  

The answer to the question is a *term* such as "broadsword," "sabre,"
"long sword," "rapier," etc.:  that is, I want a name for the type of
sword I am describing, and it can't be something that is only and
exclusively Asian or Middle Eastern or completely out of place and
time for the setting.  I don't require descriptions, pictures,
history, or anything more than the right word.  I'll supply the
details that go with it.  I'm making them up; this is for a fictional
purpose.

Thank you,
Apteryx

---

Request for Question Clarification by leli-ga on 19 Jan 2004 01:24 PST

Hi Apteryx

Would you be happy with the term "falchion"?

See this page:
http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.page.sh?PAGE=539

Or does your ideal sword need to be longer than these?
http://bjorn.foxtail.nu/h_conyers_eng.htm

Nice to talk to you again - Leli

---

Clarification of Question by apteryx-ga on 20 Jan 2004 00:30 PST

Hi again, Leli--

The falchion is very much like what I was imagining.  Not perfect,
because I was picturing a smoother, more uniform curve, not such a
disproportionately broadened tip.  But it put me on the right track,
and it seems to have prompted Pinkfreud's mention of a cutlass. 
(Thanks, Pink!)  I believe I am going to go with the word "cutlass"
because it is more familiar and won't cause anyone to stumble over
pronunciation; but I think you are the person to post the answer.

I'll offer extra thanks to Pink another time.

Thanks to other commenters, too, xarqi, manticore1234, and voila--all were helpful.

Apteryx

Thanks, Apteryx.

I'm glad you found the right word in the end. 
Nice of you to let me take up the answer space.

What an amazing collection of possibilities in the comments section! 
I had no idea . . . 

Till next time - Leli

Sharp and to the point.  Thanks, Leli.

Apteryx

Scimitar

From http://www.thehaca.com/terms4.htm#Medieval & Renaissance Sword
Forms and Companion Implements

"Curved Blades

While it is the straight-bladed cruciform sword style that for both
war and duel was perfected in Europe as no where else, curved swords
were hardly unknown. Many forms were known from the ancient
convex-bladed Greek kopis and Iberian falcatta, to the laengsaex
curved Viking blade, as well as the short-sword/long-knife seax or
scramsax. There is also the Medieval falchion and the German curved
Messer, Grossmessr, and bohemian Dusask The Italians used the curved
storta, the straight bladed but curved-edge braquemart and the curved
badelair (baudelair, bazelair, or basilaire) as well as the short
curved braquet. Finally, wide varieties of sabers, sabres, sabels, and
cutlasses were used from at least the mid-1500?s. Indigenous European
curved sword forms such as the Czech tesak, Polish tasak, and Russian
tisak were used since at least the 7th century."

Shashqa/Shashka/Shashqua, Clytch (Sham shir or Mameluke), Spatha
http://www.snowspine.com/armory/shashqa.html
http://swordforum.com/fall99/sydney-3.html
http://www.swords.co.nz/medieval.html
http://www.palmira.net/arts/arms/sabres.html
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dragon/4528/Ratha/krriktk.html

Kukri and Kopesh
http://swordforum.com
http://swordforum.com/articles/ams/kukri.php
http://users.utu.fi/sakrla/achaea/CultureLegends.html

Kantana
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/japb/ho_2001.574.htm
http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/department.asp?dep=4

Peidao

"Encounters with the nomadic tribes of Central Asia led to the 
development of the peidao, a true saber with a curved cutting edge. 
The swords of these nomadic tribes later influenced the development of 
curved blades throughout Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
http://www.thehaca.com/essays/thrusting_vs_cutting.html

Sica/Thracian sword/Mahaira
"The Thracian wore ocrea on both legs and carried a small square 
shield. On his head he wore either a full visored helmet or an open 
faced helmet with a wide brim. His weapon was a curved scimitar (sica) 
or the Thracian sword which had an angled bend in the blade.
http://www.geocities.com/jagerslaan/gladi1.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/28475/Equip.html?tqskip1=1

Tulwar/Tulwaur/Tarwar
http://www.sikhworld.co.uk/page17.html

Sword stuff:
http://www.arscives.com/gallery/en/fireandforge/development.htm
http://www.ec21.net/co/a/arms/pgroup.html?grp=1
http://www.thehaca.com/essays/thrusting_vs_cutting.html
http://www.historicalweapons.com/swordsanddaggersterm.html
http://www.aiusa.com/medsword

The ARTFL Thesaurus Project might have clues also:
http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/ROGET.sh?word=sword

Obscurity:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Zone/5150/brigatta/l_z.htm

I agree with Leli on "falchion."

Another possibility is "cutlass."

Images of the two (cutlass above, falchion below):

http://www.renaissanceinfo.com/forgeries/cutlass&falchion.jpg

Hi apteryx,

I also agree that Leli's 'flachion' is a beautiful word and the sword
you were probably after.  I just like to cover that left field
territory when questions like this one are such great adventures. 
Found just a couple more:

badelaire:  European sword with a heavy, curved blade and S-shaped
quillions; used during the 16th century.
craquemarte:  heavy European sword with a curved blade and a knuckle
guard; generally used at sea

http://killeenroos.com/2/meterms.htm
http://www.play.net/gs4/info/armory/edgedweapons.asp
http://lady_jocelin.tripod.com/training.htm
http://www.etp.phys.tue.nl/bertus/schermen/types.htm
http://www.renaissancemagazine.com/glossary/glossaryb.html
http://medievalbodyarmor.com/Functional_Sword.shtml

Salute,
V

Thank-you, apteryx!

All best wishes - Leli