scimitar

English - Turkish

Definition of scimitar in English Turkish dictionary

{i} pala

enli kılıç

{i} eğri kılıç

English - English

Definition of scimitar in English English dictionary

A sword of Middle Eastern origin that features a curved blade

A scimitar is a sword with a curved blade that was used in former times in some Eastern countries. a sword with a curved blade that was used in the past (scimitarra, perhaps from shimshir)

a curved oriental saber; the edge is on the convex side of the blade

A saber with a much curved blade having the edge on the convex side, in use among Mohammedans, esp

the Arabs and persians

A long-handled billhook

{i} curved single-edged sword which originated in the East

Related Terms

scimitar horned oryx

Critically endangered mammal, Oryx dammah, living in the arid plains and deserts of North Africa

scimitars

plural of scimitar

Hyphenation

sci·mi·tar

Etymology

() The word scimitar, known in English since 1548, derived from Medieval French cimeterre (15c.) or directly from Italian scimitarra, of unknown origin. Ottoman Turkish would be the expected source, but no such word has been found there. A possible origin of scimitar is from the Persian shim- or shamshir. This, in turn, is said to be derived from Middle Persian shafshēr meaning; lion's claw (sham = claw, shir = lion), in reference to the sword's curve. However, this is likely a folk etymology, as the word is already attested in Middle persian with the meaning sword.