halberd

noun

hal·​berd ˈhal-bərd  ˈhȯl- 

variants or less commonly halbert

ˈhal-bərt 

ˈhȯl-

: a weapon especially of the 15th and 16th centuries consisting typically of a battle-ax and pike mounted on a handle about six feet long

Did you know?

A weapon that consists of an ax blade and a sharp spike mounted on the end of a staff, usually about 5–6 ft (1.5–2 m) long, a halberd was an important weapon in middle Europe in the 15th and early 16th centuries. It enabled a foot soldier to contend with an armored man riding on horseback; the spiked head kept the rider at a distance, and the ax blade could strike a heavy cleaving blow. Firearms and the declining use of armor made the halberd obsolete.

Examples of halberd in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The retainer then struck her down with a halberd, set the mansion ablaze, and committed seppuku. —Nicholas Liu, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2024

Also, his halberd starts fritzing on the floor before fading out of existence, a reminder that this is all virtual reality—or rather, VR within VR, the metatextual framing of Ubisoft’s latest Assassin’s Creed game. —WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023

Among them was Stan Wollman, 69, a member of the New Plimmoth Gard, who was dressed in the armor-plated uniform of a pike officer, complete with a halberd — a long, pole-like weapon tipped with a blade. —BostonGlobe.com, 24 Nov. 2019

For the uninitiated, a halberd is a medieval weapon that looks like a combination of a spear and an axe. —cleveland.com, 18 May 2017

Words like halberd and basilisk became part of my daily vocabulary. —Ethan Gilsdorf, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2012

Ten minutes later, the president’s motorcade was greeted by Swiss Guards who stood to attention with their halberds and ostrich-plumed helmets. —Margaret Talev, Bloomberg.com, 24 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French hallebarde, from Middle High German helmbarte, from helm handle + barte ax

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

halberd

noun

hal·​berd ˈhal-bərd  ˈhȯl- 

variants also halbert

-bərt 

: a long-handled weapon used both as a spear and as a battle-ax especially in the 15th and 16th centuries