Middle English Dictionary Entry
sword-man n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sword-man n. |
| Etymology | From sword n. & man n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A sword fighter, gladiator; (b) a foot soldier armed with a sword; (c) a dagger-wielding assassin.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.23 : Fastina seygh swerd men [L gladiatores] fiȝte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)205b/a : Cesar vsede to se fightynge of swerdmen in þis ston.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)16b/b : Condo: a swerdeman.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)50a/a : Pinnirapus: a swerdmon.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)483 : Swerde man, or he þat vsythe a swerde: Gladiator.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)59/29 : Þis manere of fiȝt..ne was noȝt onliche profitable too kniȝtes but also to swerdemen [L gladiatoribus].
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)357 : This fanne..Shal exercise as wel swordmen as knyghtys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)124a : A Swerd man: Condio, gladiator, premissarius, pinnrapies [Monson: pinnirapus].
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.103 : Cesareus vsed to see Fyȝting of swerd-men in þis ston.
b
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16673 : The speremen ride, the bowemen schote..The swordmen smyte & strokes ȝeue.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)215/27 : Thou shalt ordayne thy knyghtes in this manere: In the ryght hande of thyne enemys, the Swerde mene.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.391 : Þat tyme wexe meny schrewed swerd men [L Sicariorum] in Ierusalem..and slouȝ meny men..priveliche.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.443 : Þat ȝere..com..a swerdman [Higd.(2): a man with a knyfe]..i-sent..for to slee kyng Edwynus.