halberd

• halbert, halbard

(1495) Middle French hallebarde, from Italian alabarda, from Middle High German helmbarte (“broad-axe with handle”), from halm, from Proto-Germanic *helmô (“handle”) + barte (“hatchet”), from *bardaz (“broadax”), literally "beard."

an assortment of halberds

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈhæl.bɚd/, /ˈhɔl.bɚd/, /ˈhɑl.bɚd/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhælbəd/, /ˈhælbɜːd/

halberd (plural halberds)

1. A two-handed pole weapon, consisting of a long pole with an axe-like blade mounted on it (at a right angle like an axe, not on the tip like a spear), and (opposite the blade) typically a spike or hook.

• halberdier
• halberd fern (Tectaria spp.)
• halberd willow (Salix hastata)

• twibill
• Swiss voulge, voulge

• Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.
• “halberd”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “halberd”, in Collins English Dictionary.