Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A curved Asian sword with the edge on the convex side.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See simitar.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A sword of Persian origin that features a curved blade.
  • noun A long-handled billhook.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

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

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French cimeterre and Italian scimitarra, both perhaps ultimately from Persian šamšēr (Modern Iranian Persian šamšīr), from Middle Persian šafšēr, šafšēr.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

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.

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Examples

  • Initially interpreted as a representation of a cave lion, it was reinterpreted by Vratislav Mazak (1970) as more likely being a depiction of the sabre-tooth Homotherium latidens (a species sometimes dubbed the scimitar cat).

    Archive 2006-03-01 Darren Naish 2006

  • This cavalier with his scimitar was my uncle, who was then in command of the province.

    French and Oriental Love in a Harem Mario Uchard

  • The sheathed scimitar, which is attached to a cloth belt and normally worn discreetly under clothes, is one of five "articles of faith" that baptised Sikhs must be carried at all times.

    Latest news, breaking news, current news, UK news, world news, celebrity news, politics news 2010

  • The sheathed scimitar, which is attached to a cloth belt and normally worn discreetly under clothes, is one of five "articles of faith" that baptised Sikhs must be carried at all times.

    Latest news, breaking news, current news, UK news, world news, celebrity news, politics news 2010

  • It is plainly this that is meant, when persons disinclined to speak out give us a circumlocution of delicate phrases, "the conservative energies of the public institutions," "the majesty of the law," perhaps, and others of similar cast; -- which fine phrases suggest to one's imagination the ornamented fashion of the handle and sheath of the scimitar, which is not the less keen, nor the less ready to be drawn, for all this finery that hides and garnishes so menacing a symbol of power.

    An Essay on the Evils of Popular Ignorance John Foster 1806

  • The only stand any of them made was on our right, where three of them stood, and, by signs, called the rest to come back to them, having a kind of scimitar in their hands, and their bows hanging to their backs.

    The Further Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731. Robinson Crusoe 1958

  • It had a kind of scimitar-shaped blade I had used when at work on rigging.

    Down South or, Yacht Adventure in Florida Oliver Optic 1859

  • The only stand any of them made was on our right, where three of them stood, and, by signs, called the rest to come back to them, having a kind of scimitar in their hands, and their bows hanging to their backs.

    The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe 1719

  • The only stand any of them made was on our right, where three of them stood, and, by signs, called the rest to come back to them, having a kind of scimitar in their hands, and their bows hanging to their backs.

    The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Daniel Defoe 1696

  • "My morning draught is the cleaving of heads and breasts; my scimitar is my cup — no cup of

    Antar : 1820

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