halberd

• halbert, halbard

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

an assortment of halberds

• IPA^(key): /ˈhælbəd/, /ˈhælbɜːd/

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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.