The etymology and origins of sword and dagger nomenclature and terms

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I have taken the most interesting description of what Quillons are as a direct Quote viz; Quote''Collins dictionary quillon in British
( French kijɔ̃)
noun
(often plural)
either half of the extended crosspiece of a sword or dagger
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'quillon'
C19: from French, diminutive of quille bowling pin, ultimately from Old High German kegil club, stake.'' Unquote.

Of course to sword enthusiasts they appear to mean the crossguard in all the definitions I have seen and place the use first with Burton in Book of the Sword..which is remarkably late. Another definition points to the shape of a ninepin ...as in ninepin bowling...and it is true that the usual cross guard form follows this shape. For us however, in exploring Quillons we tend to think in terms of those curved extensions forward of the crossguard used to ensnare an opponents sword and protect the sword hand from a sliding blade cutting your hand. Having said that ...there are some interesting side shoots worth thinking about. Here's the bigger definition necessarily in full from http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-qui3.htm; Quillon

Quote"Pronounced /ˈkwɪlən/

Early in the history of sword-fighting it was realised that a guard between the blade and the hilt was essential to stop the blade of your opponent from sliding down yours and cutting into your hand. The quillons are the cross-pieces at right angles to the blade and hilt that serve this purpose.


Though swords have had them for many centuries, this word for them isn’t recorded in English until R F Burton’s The Book of the Sword in 1884: “The quillons may be either straight — that is disposed at right angles — or curved.” (Before then, they seem simply to have been called cross-guards or just guards, as they often still are.) The origin is said to be the French quille, a ninepin, though that makes more sense when you learn the French also used it as a colloquial term for a leg, and so figuratively for the two legs represented by the jutting quillons. You may prefer to write the word as quillion instead, though this is less common.

In modern times, such technical terms have become useful in giving a sense of place and time in sword-and-sorcery fantasy tales, as here in a 1970 story by Fritz Leiber that was republished in 1995 in Ill Met in Lankhmar: “He took a few shuffling steps, tapping the cobbles ahead with wrapped sword, gripping it by the quillons, or cross guard, so that the grip and pommel were up his sleeve — and groping ahead with his other hand.” The other spelling appeared in Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey (1989): “The sheath looked as if it had once had metal fittings; there were gaping sockets in the pommel and at the ends of the quillions of the sword that had undoubtedly once held gemstones.”

The Oxford English Dictionary used to suggest it be said as a French word, /kijɔ̃/ Help with IPA, roughly “kee-yon”, but with the final vowel nasalised as in French bon. However, the current edition confirms that most people Anglicise it to /ˈkwɪlən/ (“quill-on”).'' Unquote.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

In noting the above pictorial on Quillons I deliberately placed Tulvar in the mix. The rainguard extension is in itself a type of quillon which can trap an opponents sliding blade and either snap it or disarm him...with a twist of the wrist. Comments please.

I had some hesitation before including the ruby eyed Kastane hilt with its Vajra styling ...Quillons that fit snugly to the blade niche at the throat of the Kastane are not there to ensnare opponents blades but may have had a cushioning effect in an earlier form of the sword. At any rate the sword was not meant for fighting and was primarily a court sword or badge of office from the 18th C mainly with the Dutch in Sri Lanka then the British.

Below I add the fighting spikes with a central quilon format.viz The ancient Indian spiked Vajra Mushti The quilons shown are dragon form often seen in Northern Indian form (Afghan Pulour) and other swords including the Kastane.

The Portuguese chronicler Fernão Nunes records the practice of vajra-musti in the southern Vijayanagara Empire. Vajra musti is the martial arts form without the long spikes.

For further detail see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajra-mushti.

Also illustrated is a Falchion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falchion explains that this was not always a peasants weapon ...on the contrary...it goes on...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

TIMURID QUILLONS This also appears in the late Anthony North book Islamic Arms . Jade carved in the form of Dragons.

From Wikipedia I Quote"The Timurid dynasty (Persian: تیموریان‎‎), self-designated as Gurkani (Persian: گورکانیان‎‎, Gūrkāniyān), was a Sunni Muslim dynasty or clan of Turco-Mongol lineage descended from the warlord Timur (also known as Tamerlane). The word "Gurkani" derived from "gurkan", a Persianized form of the Mongolian word "kuragan" meaning "son-in-law", as the Timurids being in-laws of the line of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire. Members of the Timurid dynasty were strongly influenced by the Persian culture and had established two significant empires in history, the Timurid Empire (1370-1507) based in Persia and Central Asia and the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) based in the Indian subcontinent."Unquote.

See also http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/timu/hd_timu.htm

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

From http://www.amirmohtashemi.com/Quillo...tegoryid=10216

I Quote "Quillon or Guard for a dagger with dragon heads
Iran or Turkey, 16th / 17th century.
This hilt is made of steel and is decorated in gold overlay. The pattern depicts blossoming flowers and curling leaves. It has an angular body with arms that curve downwards and terminate in elaborately carved dragon heads. The teeth and tongues of the dragons remain visible; attesting to the careful workmanship of the artist.

Dragons are found extensively on many objects from the Islamic world. They appear on candlesticks, serve as handles on cups and jugs, and often make up part of the hilts of swords and daggers.

Chinese wares inspired artists and this cross-cultural exchange resulted in the introduction of the mythical creatures to the Middle East and particularly Iran. We know this from historical accounts that document an embassy sent from Timurid Iran to China, which included numerous artists (cited in, D. Alexander, Islamic Arms and Armour in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, London, Yale University Press, 2015, p.150).'' Unquote.

[Jim McDougall]

This is a fascinating topic, and interesting to look into the nomenclature of swords and how it may have developed. It is surprising how complacent we seem to have become on these terms used in describing these weapons without really realizing how they came to be.

We have had considerable focus and often dynamic discussions recently, and over the years on the 'name game' or the struggle in finding the proper term for various weapons which have conflicting terms used in the literature.
These have revealed a surprising aptitude and interest in linguistics and etymology here which has proven I think somewhat pertinent in our overall understanding of the weapon forms themselves.

While the etymology of these nomenclature terms may not be particularly key to understanding weapon forms specifically, it is of interest to many who study arms comprehensively.

It would be interesting to look into some of the other terms as well, such as pas d'ane and hilt itself.
The term broadsword did not always mean the double edged blade, but as late as early 20th century was use collectively for any heavy straight blade. The backsword term for single edged seems more a specifying term which arose sometime later in the 19th century.

I have often had difficulty differentiating between the terms fuller, channel and groove in the blades and which is proper descriptively. This has come to mind recently in our discussions on Shotley Bridge ( European forum) with the 'hollow' blade...which actually means ground out blade face where stock removal creates a 'fuller' of sorts to lighten and strengthen the blade.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Naturally the detail in this thread may meander from Ethnographic to European and broadening out the reader will perhaps notice that concepts thought basic are in fact not so simple as first envisaged

Pas D'ane is one such peculiar addition. www.dictionary.com/browse/pas-d-ane says regarding swords Quote" it comprises the two rings under the crossguard in which a finger may be inserted for safety and for added control of the blade. Literally it means; Asses Step."Unquote.

There may also be a single ring. See Below.

I cornered an interesting web page here https://oldswords.com/articles/Small...ibles-v1i1.pdf with examples and a good sketch with named parts.

Pick up on these Pas D'ane at websites like https://www.pinterest.com/pin/342766221609821775/

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

In noting the above pictorial on Quillons I deliberately placed Tulvar in the mix. The rainguard extension is in itself a type of quillon which can trap an opponents sliding blade and either snap it or disarm him...with a twist of the wrist. Comments please.

Langet, rather than quillon. While it can, in principle, trap blades, the main use is more everyday-functional, to fit the sword securely in the scabbard without ratting, and without making it difficult to draw. A similar function is performed by the Chinese tunkou and Japanese habaki (though on the inside of the scabbard rather than the outside).

Langets like this look like a fairly late development - the earliest that come to mind are some 13th century examples from Central Asia.

Langets which sit flush against the blade can have different functions: reinforcement of the attachment of the blade to hilt, reinforcement of the base of the blade, secure attachment of the guard to the blade.

Then there are langets which extend along the grip, which help secure the guard to the grip.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Langet.

Thank You Sir, I stand corrected . Here are a few illustrations...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Langets.

I include a look at daggers regarding Langets... One that stands out is the Bitchwa shown..From http://www.mandarinmansion.com/bichw...ed-iron-handle

Quote"The langets that hold the blade have the profile of the stylized palmate motifs found on the langets of many arms attributed to the Tanjore armory.''Unquote.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Here is an interesting discovery; now a key museum exhibit and with description at http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-...ology/art42519

As its Museum write up confirms...Quote “These rare sword fittings provide valuable clues about medieval trade and travel in Anglo-Saxon England,” Unquote.