sword-breaker

English
Schematics of a 17th-century sword-breaker.

Noun

sword-breaker (plural sword-breakers)

  1. A short sword or dagger with a deeply notched or toothed blade, or with secondary projections, designed to catch or grapple an opponent's weapon.
    • 1884, Robert F. Burton, The Book of the Sword, page 138:
      The deepest indentations are in the so-called Sword-breakers (brise-épées), mostly of the fifteenth century.
  2. (uncommon) A notch or projection on a dagger (etc) designed to catch an opponent's weapon.
    • 1904, Guy Francis Laking, The Armoury of Windsor Castle: European Section, page 32:
      The dagger has the triangular knuckle-guard peculiar to the period, also straight quillons, fluted pommel and similar grip; the blade is 18 in. long, 2 in. wide at the hilt, where it is furnished with two sword-breakers.

Alternative forms
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