swashbuckles
Duels with flair
Swashbuckles is the third-person singular of swashbuckle, meaning to act like a dashing, sword-wielding adventurer—bold, boastful, and theatrical.
The word evokes pirates, musketeers, and romantic heroes who fight with flourish: He swashbuckles through life like he's in an Errol Flynn movie.
The image is of someone striking a buckler (small shield) with a sword.
Combat using bladed weapons
- duelsArranged one-on-one fights
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- buccaneersCaribbean sea raiders
- heroicsBold dramatic actions
daring · exploits · escapades · derring-do · galleons · sea battles · treasure · plundering
Swashbuckling 1930s-40s leading man
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- costume dramaHistorical fiction with ornate attire
- capesArmless cloaks or promontories
- flourishesProspers or ornamental strokes
dramatic · flamboyant · cinematic · romance · villain · damsel · rooftop chase · dramatic entrance
swordfights
Combat using bladed weapons
- duelsArranged one-on-one fights
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- buccaneersCaribbean sea raiders
heroics · daring · exploits · escapades · derring-do · galleons · sea battles · treasure · plundering · raids
Errol Flynn
Swashbuckling 1930s-40s leading man
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- costume dramaHistorical fiction with ornate attire
- capesArmless cloaks or promontories
flourishes · dramatic · flamboyant · cinematic · romance · villain · damsel · rooftop chase · dramatic entrance · sword salute
fencing
Combat with blunted blades
lunging · blade work · swordplay · clashing · sparring · crossing swords · en garde · disarming · dueling · combat
swashbucklescowers
Shrinks from fear
retreats · hesitates · shrinks back · quails · hedges
- swashbuckling talesDaring adventure fiction
swashbuckling, swashbuckler, swashbucklers, swashbuckle, swashbuckled