hilt

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /hɪlt/ UK /hɪlt/ See IPA manual

Freq #23782

Meanings

1

noun
the handle assembly of a sword or dagger, including its grip, guard, and pommel

The knight rested one hand on the hilt of his sword.
2

verb
to provide a blade with a hilt

The craftsperson hilted the restored sword with walnut and brass.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the handle assembly of a... handle griphaft

2 verb · to provide a blade with a hilt fit with a handlehaft

Word family

Derived forms hiltedhiltlesssub-hilt

Related forms pommel guard sword dagger

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

basket hilt
a sword handle protected by a guard shaped like a basket around the hand

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English hilt or hilte and Old English hilt, hilte, inherited from an ancient Germanic word for a weapon handle. Cognates include Old Norse hjalt and Old High German helza. The idiom to the hilt, 'completely,' imagines a blade driven in as far as its handle.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

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