Baldric
/ˈbɔːl.drɪk/noun
A belt or sash worn over one shoulder and across the body, often used to carry a sword or other weapon.
Did you know?Baldric entered English through medieval French and ultimately traces back to a Germanic word for a shoulder belt, not to anything mystical — but in medieval Europe, the baldric was a visible sign of rank, weaponry, and readiness for battle.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*balþraz / *balðrō
“A belt or shoulder strap (reconstructed Germanic source of the later word).”
Old French
OF
baudré / baldre
“A belt or sword-belt worn over the shoulder.”
Middle English
ME
baldrik
“A shoulder belt or sword belt.”
Modern English
EN
baldric
“A belt worn over one shoulder and across the chest, especially for carrying a sword.”