rapier
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English
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Middle French rapiere, from Middle French (espee) rapiere, from Old French rapiere, raspiere, from Spanish raspadera (“poker; raker; scraper”), from Spanish raspar (“to scrape”), of Germanic origin. More at rasp.
Pronunciation
Noun
rapier (plural rapiers)
- A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless), designed predominantly for thrusting; used during the Renaissance period of Europe for civilian duelling
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
- […] In his lawless fit,
Behind the arras hearing something stir,
Whips out his rapier, cries ‘A rat, a rat!’
And in this brainish apprehension kills
The unseen good old man.
- 1911, G. K. Chesterton, “The Sins of Prince Saradine”, in The Innocence of Father Brown:
- The man beside him with the earrings and the big black case proceeded to unlock it. He took out of it two long Italian rapiers, with splendid steel hilts and blades, which he planted point downwards in the lawn.
Derived terms
Translations
slender straight sharply pointed sword
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Adjective
rapier (not comparable)
- Extremely sharp.
- Cutting; employing keen wit.
- John is very quick on his feet during interviews by using his rapier responses.
Etymology 2
Adjective
rapier
- comparative form of rapey: more rapey
Anagrams
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French (espee) rapiere.
Pronunciation
Noun
rapier n (plural rapieren, diminutive rapiertje n)
Coordinate terms
Polish
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from French rapière. First attested in 1597.[1]
Pronunciation
Noun
rapier m inan
Declension
Declension of rapier
References
- ^ Maria Renata Mayenowa, Stanisław Rospond, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Hrabec, Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023) Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]