cutlasses
Curved naval blades
Cutlasses are short, broad swords with slightly curved blades, historically associated with sailors and pirates.
The design made them practical for close combat in the cramped quarters of ships, where longer weapons would be unwieldy.
The pirates brandished their cutlasses as they boarded the merchant vessel.
The word now appears mostly in historical fiction and accounts of naval warfare from the Age of Sail.
Curved single-edged sword
- macheteHeavy broad-bladed knife
- falchionCurved medieval cutting sword
- backswordSingle-edged martial blade
- hangerCloset garment support
curved · single-edged · short · guard · hilt · pommel · tang · fuller
Angled line or swipe
sever · strike · thrust · parry · duel · melee · close-quarters · boarding
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- BlackbeardFamous Caribbean buccaneer
- plunderGoods seized violently
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
swashbuckler · Jolly Roger · booty · Caribbean · doubloon · privateer · scurvy · mutiny
Seafaring crew member
- deckShip's flat surface
- frigateMedium-sized naval warship
- galleonLarge historical sailing ship
- man-of-warArmed sailing vessel
midshipman · quartermaster · bosun · rigging · boarding party · armory · combat · engagement
Old valued collectible
- vintageQuality from past eras
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- relicPreserved ancient object
restoration · auction · estate · memorabilia · preservation · patina · historical · Victorian
sabre
Curved single-edged sword
- macheteHeavy broad-bladed knife
- falchionCurved medieval cutting sword
- backswordSingle-edged martial blade
hanger · curved · single-edged · short · guard · hilt · pommel · tang · fuller · edge
slash
Angled line or swipe
carve · sever · strike · thrust · parry · duel · melee · close-quarters · boarding · fighting
buccaneer
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- BlackbeardFamous Caribbean buccaneer
- plunderGoods seized violently
treasure · swashbuckler · Jolly Roger · booty · Caribbean · doubloon · privateer · scurvy · mutiny · parley
sailor
Seafaring crew member
man-of-war · midshipman · quartermaster · bosun · rigging · boarding party · armory · combat · engagement · broadside
antique
Old valued collectible
relic · restoration · auction · estate · memorabilia · preservation · patina · historical · Victorian · Georgian
- arms and armorswords, shields, helmets, daggers, axes
- armsguns, rifles, pistols, swords, firearms
- Caribbean piratespirates, buccaneers, Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, privateers
- swordssword, sabres, longsword, rapier, saber
- pirate raidsgrappling hooks, grappling hook, plunder, pirates, buccaneers
- American swordssabers, ceremonial swords, dress swords
cutlassesgavels
Ceremonial striking tools
olive branches · plowshares · pens · scales of justice · white flags