rapier
Duelist's slender blade
A rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword designed primarily for thrusting rather than cutting, favored in European dueling from the 16th through 18th centuries.
The word survives mainly in figurative use: rapier wit describes verbal sharpness that cuts with precision and elegance.
Flat cutting edge
- stilettoThin-bladed knife or heel
- daggerShort pointed stabbing blade
- pommelSaddle's front knob
- fullerSmithy's channeling implement
tang · scabbard · crossguard · point · edge · smallsword · tuck
Defeat a plan
- epeeFencing blade
- sabreCurved single-edged sword
- boutLimited stretch of something
- pisteDesignated ski route
parry · riposte · lunge · fleche · touché · thrust · feint · disengage
Prearranged one-on-one combat
- thrustForceful forward motion
- parryDefensive blade deflection
- riposteSwift clever reply
- lungeSudden forward movement
feint · swordplay · swordsmanship · seconds · honor · challenge · piste · salute
Thin and graceful
- gracefulElegant in movement
- refinedPurified or cultured
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- preciseExactly correct, no error
delicate · ornate · tapered · lithe · polished · sleek · exquisite · deadly
Soldier armed with musket
- ZorroMasked vigilante with blade
- AthosSacred Greek promontory
- PorthosFrench swordsman, fictional trio
- CyranoLovesick poet-fighter with prominent proboscis
Aramis · pirate · buccaneer · cavalier · gallant · dashing · derring-do · swordsman
blade
Flat cutting edge
fuller · tang · scabbard · crossguard · point · edge · smallsword · tuck
foil
Defeat a plan
piste · parry · riposte · lunge · fleche · touché · thrust · feint · disengage · reprise
duel
Prearranged one-on-one combat
lunge · feint · swordplay · swordsmanship · seconds · honor · challenge · piste · salute · satisfaction
slender
Thin and graceful
- gracefulElegant in movement
- refinedPurified or cultured
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
precise · delicate · ornate · tapered · lithe · polished · sleek · exquisite · deadly · swift
musketeer
Soldier armed with musket
Aramis · Cyrano · pirate · buccaneer · cavalier · gallant · dashing · derring-do · swordsman · adventure
sharp
Fine-edged, or astute
keen · pointed · biting · acerbic · trenchant · barbed · stinging · razor-sharp · quick · clever
sixteenth-century
The years 1500-1599
- ElizabethanOf late 1500s England
- TudorSixteenth-century English ruling family
- courtierRoyal household attendant
nobleman · gentleman · Agrippa · Italian · Spanish · Bolognese · salle · academy · treatise · manual
rapierbroadsword
Wide-bladed cutting weapon
claymore · battle axe · greatsword · longsword · bastard sword