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.

blade

sabre

Curved single-edged sword

hanger · curved · single-edged · short · guard · hilt · pommel · tang · fuller · edge

combat

slash

Angled line or swipe

carve · sever · strike · thrust · parry · duel · melee · close-quarters · boarding · fighting

pirate

buccaneer

Caribbean colonial-era pirate

treasure · swashbuckler · Jolly Roger · booty · Caribbean · doubloon · privateer · scurvy · mutiny · parley

naval

sailor

Seafaring crew member

  • deckShip's flat surface
  • frigateMedium-sized naval warship
  • galleonLarge historical sailing ship

man-of-war · midshipman · quartermaster · bosun · rigging · boarding party · armory · combat · engagement · broadside

collectible

antique

Old valued collectible

relic · restoration · auction · estate · memorabilia · preservation · patina · historical · Victorian · Georgian

Categories
Opposites
sword type/design

cutlassesrapiers

Slender double-edged swords

foils · dress swords · stilettos · dueling swords

weapon category

cutlassesmuskets

Early shoulder-fired guns

pistols · rifles · cannons · crossbows · longbows

symbolic association

cutlassesgavels

Ceremonial striking tools

olive branches · plowshares · pens · scales of justice · white flags

Family

cutlass

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G